Women's Cross Country Finishes 14th at CCAC Championships

VALPARAISO, IN—The fifth varsity season of Governors State women's cross country came to an end Saturday with a 14th-place showing at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Championships, conducted at the Robbinhurst Golf Course.

Fifth-ranked St. Francis (24 points) secured its fourth-straight crown (giving the Fighting Saints a sweep of the women's and men's team titles) by finishing 37 points ahead of 11th-ranked Olivet Nazarene (61 points). Both schools will represent the conference at NAIA Nationals. Rounding out the field were: St. Ambrose (107), Judson (108), Saint Xavier (152), Calumet St. Joseph (161), Trinity Christian (173), Trinity International (233), Roosevelt (243), Robert Morris (260), IU South Bend (320), Cardinal Stritch (331), IU Northwest (386) and Governors State (414).

St. Francis claimed the top-three individual spots with first-place honors going to Laisha Corona (18:26.2).

First-year student-athletes accounted for GSU's top-four times on the 5K course. Avery Fountain led the way with a clocking of 24:36.5, the team's third-fastest time of the season and good enough for 111th place overall. Bailey Honn turned in a time of 26:13.7 and Elizabeth Rios finished in 26:43.2. Megan Jackson (27:54.2) and Milica Maras (30:20.3) both set personal-records finishing a few spots ahead of Peachshaiya Bailey (31:12.9).

"We had four freshmen runners who really improved over the course of the season and overcame a few injuries," stated GSU Head Coach Kevin Kredens. "I think we have a good freshman class that will continually learn how to race in a very competitive conference."