Results

The St. Catherine University cross country team opened the 2015 season two weeks ago with solid individual performances across the board including seven personal record (PR) times. The follow up meet, though, would be a tougher test facing a challenging course with some of the top Division III programs in the region and the nation at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Meet.

With a solid all-around performance, the Wildcats finished 11th as a team for the best team finish in program history with four runners finishing in the top 60 among a stacked field Saturday morning at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

As a team, the Wildcats were just 10 places out of 10th and finished well in front of fellow Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) competitor Bethel University by 24 points. 

Leading the way for the Wildcats individually was Courtney Kirkeide (Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River) who finished 31st. The junior crossed the line in 25:15.1 and less than a second from the next competitor in 30th. 

Fellow junior Shannon Strickland (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) had a solid race placing in the top 50 with a time of 26:11.4 in 49th place. Marie Morrier (Hudson, N.H./Academy of Science and Design) was just 13 seconds behind Strickland finishing 52nd with a time of 26:24.9. 

First-year Jackie Brine-Doyle (Merrifield, Minn./Pequot Lakes) had a strong day as the fourth Wildcat finisher on the day and just behind Morrier with a time of 26:36.9 for 59th overall. Catherine Degen (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) rounded out the Wildcat top five with a time 27:16.9 in 79th place. 

Bryana Waage (Valencia, Calif./Hart) was just over 10 seconds behind Degen with a time of 27:27.4 as the sixth finisher, while Jenna Thompson (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) was the seventh Wildcat to cross the line with a time of 28:59.3. 

Wellesley College from Massachusetts traveled to Minnesota to capture the team title with five runners placing in the top 20. Kimber Meyer of Macalester College won the individual title representing the MIAC with a time of 22:57.8.

The Wildcats will take another week of competition off before returning to action hosting the St. Kate's Invite Saturday, Oct. 10 on their home course at 11 a.m. in St. Paul. 

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