Washington University Captures Top-Five NCAA Finishes for Second Straight Year

Washington University Captures Top-Five NCAA Finishes for Second Straight Year

From Washington University Athletics

The Washington University in St. Louis cross country program ran to multiple top-five finishes at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by Principia College in Elsah, Ill. during a cool and wet Saturday afternoon.

The Bears earned multiple top-five finishes at the National Championships for the second straight season and the fourth during head coach Jeff Stiles tenure (2011, '14, '16, '17).

The WashU women placed third overall to earn the 10th final-four finish in the team's history with 202 points behind Johns Hopkins University (96) and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (191). The WashU men totaled 269 points to place behind North Central College (57), University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (196), Christopher Newport University (221) and Amherst College (251).

Sophomore Paige Lawler placed 15th overall with a time of 21:07.30, her second best time of the year to earn the first All-American honor of her career. Senior Alison Lindsay earned her second consecutive All-American distinction placing 25th with a time of 21:22.90. Sophomore Sophie Watterson ran the course in 21:40.00 to finish in 41st place during her first experience at nationals.

Rounding out the Bears top-five scoring times were junior Lisa Gorham (112th), 22:16.80, and senior Audrey Western, 22:24.10 (123rd). Also racing for WashU was freshman Lara Rix, 22:32.80 (142nd), and junior Jeri Glicksman, 22:44.30 (167th) as the Bears placed all of their runners within the top-200 in a field of 279 competitors.

Senior David O'Gara led the Bears with the highest placement among the competition as he earned his second straight All-American honor by placing ninth in 24:36.50. Junior Peter Johnsrud claimed the first All-American honor of his career with a top-35 placement. He finished in 34th place as he crossed the finish line in 24:54.87.

Both O'Gara and Johnsrud had strong kicks at the end to jump ahead of several of the 279 challengers. Sophomore Nick Matteucci was next to finish for the Bears with a time of 25:31.09, while senior Kirby Simon, 25:35.28 (116th), and sophomore Marco Quaroni, 25:38.40 (121st), rounded out the Bears scoring lineup.

Graduate student Ben Rosenkranz nearly cracked the top-200 times as he fought his way to the finish line in 26:07.22. Junior Chris Blagg also ran to his third best time of the season when he posted a time of 26:27.61 to finish 238th among Division III's best.

Women – 3rd Place (21:46.22 avg. time)

15. Paige Lawler – 21:07.30

25. Alison Lindsay – 21:22.90

41. Sophie Watterson – 21:40.00

112. Lisa Gorham – 22:16.80

123. Audrey Western – 22:24.10

142. Lara Rix – 22:32.80

167. Jeri Glicksman – 22:44.30

Men – 5th Place (25:15.23 avg. time)

9. David O'Gara – 24:36.50

34. Peter Johnsrud – 24:54.87

101. Nick Matteucci – 25:31.09

116. Kirby Simon – 25:35.28

121. Marco Quaroni – 25:38.40

201. Ben Rosenkranz – 26:07.22

238. Chris Blagg – 26:27.61