Women's Cross Country | 9/11/2015 11:14:00 PM
SPEARFISH, S.D. – The season opener for the University of Mary women's cross country team turned out perfect. Led by All-American Lexi Zeis, the Marauders claimed the top five finishes at the Yellow Jacket Invitational and U-Mary recorded a perfect score of 15 to take the meet.
In a dual with host Black Hills State University, the Marauders posted a score of 15 points to 43 for the Yellow Jackets.
"We had a perfect score for the women and we're satisfied for today," said Marauders head coach
Dennis Newell. "We saw some good things for us to build on and some areas in which we'll need to do a better job."
Zeiss easily claimed the meet title, covering the 4,000 meter course in 14:32.85. The sophomore from Bismarck, N.D., finished nearly 70 seconds ahead of teammate
Kaycie Stewart. Also a sophomore, Stewart traversed the course in 15:42.47.
Close behind in third was
Jaiden Schuette. Running her first collegiate race, the freshman from Bismarck posted a mark of 15:48.85.
Two juniors capped the top five for the race. Katelyn Engh crossed the finish line in 16:00.90 for fourth and
Chelsea Bennis held off Black Hills State's top runner for fifth by a scant 1.23 seconds. Bennis recorded a time of 16:21.64 while the Yellow Jackets Cailey Roth finished the course at 16:22.87.
Rounding out a top ten finish for the Marauders was
Kennedy Robbins in eighth at 16:45.81.
Six other Marauders also ran in the first event of the season.
Jessica Carlson placed 12
th at 17:36.57 and
Alyssa Bornhoft snared 13
th in 17:38.62.
Rounding out the meet for the Marauders was
Jessica Nehl (17:54.42),
Chloe Elder (18:23.85),
Kamryn Higgins (18:27.85) and
Tess Hoherz (18:56.03).
The Marauders next compete at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26.
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