The Whitworth women’s cross-country team finished sixth on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. The team’s sixth-place finish marks the farthest they have gone in a national competition. This marks the 16th year since the Bucs have made an appearance in the top 15, placing 11th back in 1993.
Four Whitworth runners placed in the top 200.
The first of the Bucs to cross the finish line was freshman Joy Shufeldt, who finished 23rd with a time of 22:38.40. Junior Dana Misterek followed shortly after with a time of 22:39.40, placing 26th in the field.
Junior Tonya Turner placed 76th with a time of 23:24.1 followed by junior Katie Williams who placed 89th in 23:31.6. Senior Jo E. Mayer was Whitworth’s final scorer in the top 200, crossing the line 198th with a time of 24:33.1.
Finishing with a time of 24:58.3, senior Emily Morehouse placed 225th with a time of 24:58.3, roughly 1:30 behind her teammates.
Senior Kaitlin Hildebrand rounded out the team with a 272nd place finish. Her final time was 26:07.5, more than two minutes behind Morehouse.
The team received several awards and coach Toby Schwarz was the recipient of the Women’s NCAA Division III West Region Coach of the Year.
Both Shufeldt and Misterek earned All-American Awards for placing in the top 35 at the competition.
Contact Danielle Douvikas at danielle.douvikas@whitworthian.com.
Contact Jessica Valencia at jessica.valencia@whitworthian.com.
Cross-country sixth at nationals
Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Updated: Monday, November 23, 2009
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