GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. --- In a loaded field that featured 13 teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, the NAIA No. 4-ranked University of St. Francis women's cross country team placed fourth overall at the Aquinas College (Mich.) NAIA Great Lakes Challenge on Saturday morning.

USF's 161 total points came from its top five runners placing among the top 51 overall in a race made up of 214 total runners comprising 25 teams.  Earning the Saints' highest finish was Ana Mendoza Pineda, who posted the race's 15th-best time at 18:06.20.  Just missing out on a Top 25 performance was Bailey Wilk at No. 26 with her time of 18:24.60.

The rest of St. Francis' scoring contingent was made up of Katherine Bakken, Allison Ramsey and Megan Ramsey.  Bakken ran an 18:34.4 to place 32nd overall, Allison Ramsey turned in a time of 18:45.4 to finish 40th and Megan Ramsey placed 51st with her time of 19:01.2.

Claiming the individual meet title was Huntington University's Addy Wiley, who ran the 5K course in 16:57.6.    

The only teams to place higher than the Saints were NAIA No. 2-ranked Taylor University (Ind.), No. 3 University of St. Mary (Kan.) and No. 7 Cornerstone University (Mich.).  Taylor placed three runners in the Top 10 and all five in the Top 20 to run away with the meet title, totaling 46 points.  St. Mary was just ahead of Cornerstone, 126-129.

Notes: Saturday marked the third straight race in which Pineda led the USF field.  Her time on Saturday also marked her best performance of the campaign … Also recording her best time of the season was Wilk … The Saints' next competition is the CCAC Championships on Nov. 5 at Channahon Community Park, where they will be seeking their seventh title in a row.

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