The Gustavus women’s cross country team, led by individual champion Hailey Harren (Jr., Cold Spring, Minn.), finished fourth Saturday at the 2005 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships held at Como Park in St. Paul.
The Gusties amassed 91 points, finishing behind MIAC champion Carleton (75 pts.), runner-up St. Thomas (81 pts.) and St. Olaf (82 pts.).
Harren stopped the clock in a time of 21:53.80, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Keidra Anderson of Hamline (22:07.40). Gustavus senior Kourtney Joyce (Wadena, Minn.) finished third in a time of 22:26.25. The Gusties were the only team with two runners in the top five and one of three teams with two runners in the top ten.
Senior Ashley Cronen (Kandiyohi, Minn.) made it three in the top 15 for Gustavus with her 14th-place time of 23:39.75.
Laura Edlund (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) finished 32nd (24:22.00), while Melissa Kittock (Sr., Buffalo, Minn.), Sarah Bernhardson (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Mollie Lager (Sr., Robbinsdale, Minn.) finished in a pack to round out the Gustavus top seven. Kittock was 44th with a time of 24:50.00, while Bernhardson (24:52.55) and Lager (24:53.25) finished 46th and 47th, respectively.
Harren became only the second Gustie female to capture the individual championship. Sarah Edmonds accomplished the feat in 1992, the same season she claimed the individual title at the NCAA Divison III Women’s Cross Country Championships.
Harren, Joyce and Cronen each received All-MIAC honors for their efforts.
The Gusties are now idle until November 12 when they will participate in the NCAA Divison III Central Region Championships to be held at the Waverly Municpal Golf Course in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg College is the host institution.