Women's Cross Country 11/19/2016 12:56:00 PM

McNamee top finisher, Blue Jays place 29th at NCAA Championships

2016 NCAA Division III Women's 6k Championship Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Saturday's NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship race was held under perfect cross country weather at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, cool and cloudy. The Elizabethtown College women's cross country team went on to place 29th at the championship meet with 575 points, led by Brenna McNamee.

Elizabethtown started out of box No. 40 and through the first check point at 3,000 meters, were collectively 32nd. The Blue Jays picked up the pace over the final half of the race.

McNamee had the best times of her career this season as a junior, she and capped off a terrific third year with a new 6,000-meter personal record. As the lead Jay for E-town, McNamee ran 22:03.2, six seconds better than her previous top mark. She was 114th overall after placing 179th last year.

Casey Quinto, one of four All-Mideast Region runners a week ago for EC, came in next at 22:09.6 in 130th. She finished her career as a three-time all-conference and two-time all-region and NCAA Championship participant.

Kelsey Brady and Maria Anderson worked together for the Blue Jays throughout the race and clocked in just five seconds apart. Brady came in first of the two at 179th, while Anderson was 189th. Brady ran 22:29.0 and Anderson finished in 22:34.1.

Racing in the national meet for the second time in her career and first time since 2014, Liz Wedekind saved her best 6k for last. Wedekind established a new personal best in her final collegiate race with a 22:50.3 (22:58.02). Wedekind was the fifth scorer for Elizabethtown on Saturday.

Brianna Earnshaw and Colleen Kernan rounded out E-town's seven-person squad. Earnshaw ran 22:52.2 and Kernan came in at 23:37.3.

It was the eighth time out of nine appearances in program history that the women's cross country team finished inside the top 30 in Division III.

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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