Issued: September 28, 2002

WOMEN RUNNERS FINISH THIRD AT ROY GRIAK INVITATIONAL

ST. PAUL, MN - The UW-Eau Claire women's cross country finished third in the 19-team Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course here today.

In a field of 255 runners, the Blugolds placed four runners in the top 25. Jane Ovanin (So.-Amherst) once again led the way, finishing third overall in a time of 18:55.7. Missy Paulson (So.-Birnamwood/Whit-Birn), Melissa Wright (Jr.-Appleton/Kimberly), and Rachel Anderson (Fr.-St. Paul, MN) also finished among the top 25.

Other finishers include Heather Lipinski (Jr.-Thorp) at 45th in 20:41.0 and Nikki Johnson (Jr.-St. Cloud, MN/Cathedral) at 48th in 20:45.4.

The Blugolds will travel to Colfax Friday to compete in the Midwest Long and Short Course.

Team Scores: 1) Carleton College 79, 2) St. Olaf 81, 3) UW-Eau Claire 103, 4) Macalester College 128, 5) Gustavus Adolphus 172, t-6) St. Scholastica 188, t-6) UW-River Falls 188, 8) Carroll College 215, 9) UW-Whitewater 225, 10) Hamline University 243, 11) UW-Superior 299, 12) Northwestern College 302, 13) Bethel College 330, 14) UW-Stevens Point 424, 15) Northland College 469, 16) North Central University 485, 17) Milwaukee School of Engineering 510, 18) St. Catherine 521, 19) Crown College 553.

Top 10 Individuals: 1) Desiree Budd (St. Scholastica) 18:28.8, 2) Megan Daymont (St. Olaf) 18:52.1, 3) Jane Ovanin (UW-Eau Claire) 18:55.7, 4) Amanda Kuca (Concordia) 19:15.8, 5) Laura Bloedorn (Carleton) 19:17.0, 6) Emily Koller (Macalester) 19:17.9, 7) Lisa Traxler (UW-River Falls) 19:22.5, 8) Kristin Igielski (Carroll) 19:23.7, 9) Carrie Smith (UW-Superior) 19:26.2, 10) Nicole Peterson (Gustavus) 19:34.0.

Blugold Finishers: 3) Jane Ovanin 18:55.7, 15) Missy Paulson 19:46.4, 16) Melissa Wright 19:50.0, 24) Rachel Anderson 20:09.7, 45) Heather Lipinski 20:41.0, 48) Nikki Johnson 20:45.4, 51) Katie Hankel 20:53.1.