University of West Alabama

In just her second season on the St. Catherine University cross country team, senior Ariel Johnson (Willmar, Minn.) has shown constant improvement and is making her senior season count in every way possible. Not only did she have her personal best race this weekend, but she helped the Wildcats to a ninth place finish at the Blugold Invitational Friday. 

Johnson turned inthe third-best time (24:09.81) for the Wildcats in a tough race in Eau Claire to finish 89th overall in a field of over 260 runners which included several Division I and II schools. Her time was a personal record and over two minutes faster than her previous best time. Having never finished in the school's Top 25 list previously, Johnson's outstanding performance lands her seventh all time and makes her one of the most improved Wildcats this season.

Johnson and the Wildcats will take a week off of competition before returning to their home course for the St. Kate's Invite on Saturday, Oct. 6.