Women's Cross Country 11/12/2016 5:24:00 PM

Four all-region for women's XC, Jays fight for third at regional meet

Women's Mideast Regional 6k Results

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- The Elizabethtown College women's cross country team rolled into Saturday's NCAA Mideast Regional Championship coming of its third straight Landmark Conference crown. E-town went on to take third at the regional meet, the same place it finished in the last time the Mideast region was contested at DeSales. Four Blue Jay runners were named all-region, the most the team has had since 2012.

Elizabethtown's top five scorers finished 53 seconds apart, from first to fifth, the fastest of any of the top ten teams Saturday.

The Blue Jays were led by example, once more, as senior Casey Quinto paced the team. Quinto earned her second consecutive all-region title after she took 14th. She was tenth a season ago.

Also earning her second straight all-region honor was Brenna McNamee. A year after placing 29th, the junior moved up eight spots better to take 21st in 22:29.

Ten seconds after McNamee crossed, Kelsey Brady came charging through the line in 24th at 22:39. It is the first time Brady has finished as an All-Mideast Region performer.

Maria Anderson had her best regional finish of her career Saturday. After a 38th-place run in 2014 and 40th in 2015, Anderson ran to 31st and crossed in 22:48 to also receive her first all-region nod.

Brianna Earnshaw ran a season-best 6k time of 22:57 to take 36th, just outside the all-region picture. The top 35 receive the title of All-Mideast Region. Two spots behind her was senior teammate Liz Wedekind, who ran 23:05 to take 38th for her best finish at a Mideast Regional race.

Colleen Kernan made it seven inside the top 50 for Elizabethtown, only one of two teams to do so. Kernan was 47th in 23:21. She was 110th last year.

Johns Hopkins was once again the Mideast Region champion with a meet-low 38 points. Dickinson finished second with 120, just ahead of E-town's 126. Hopkins and Dickinson earned the automatic berths to the NCAA Championships next weekend. The Blue Jays are in good position to make it back to the national meet for the fourth straight year.

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Players Mentioned

Maria Anderson: 5' 3"; Junior

Kelsey Brady: 5' 3"; Junior

Brianna Earnshaw: 5' 10"; Senior

Colleen Kernan: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Brenna McNamee: 5' 4"; Junior

Casey Quinto: 5' 10"; Senior

Liz Wedekind: 5' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Maria Anderson
: 5' 3"; Junior

Kelsey Brady
: 5' 3"; Junior

Brianna Earnshaw
: 5' 10"; Senior

Colleen Kernan
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Brenna McNamee
: 5' 4"; Junior

Casey Quinto
: 5' 10"; Senior

Liz Wedekind
: 5' 4"; Senior