Running to the MIAC meet

By: Samantha Borawski
Sports Section Editor

Saint Mary’s University’s cross country team beat school records before heading to the MIAC Tournament on Oct. 27.

After having successful races this entire season, the cardinals continued to showcase their speed. In their most recent race, the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational in West Salem, Wis., the Cardinals set record-breaking times.

“We are focused on being competitive,” said sophomore women’s cross country member Katie Stolz. “For us it means not only improving personal times, but more importantly, beating every runner to improve our team placement.”

Sophomore Aaron Haley on the men’s cross country team broke school records. His 8k time of 26:00 broke the school record of 26:02, previously set by Rob Edwards in 1996. Haley’s efforts were followed by seniors Peter Borash (26:27) and Jake Traxler (26:39). Overall, the men’s team placed 16th.

“We have worked really hard this summer and in workouts all season long, which has transferred over to successful meets,” said Stolz. “Overall we are mentally and physically stronger than last year.”

Meanwhile, the women’s team placed 18th in the invitational. Stolz ran the fifth fastest time in program history with a 6k time of 23:52 at the invitational. Other top runners in the invitational included junior Kristin Thelen (24:40), freshman Allie Thiel (25:03) and junior Katherine Mockler (25:09).

In their previous races, the men’s cross country team placed fifth in the St. Olaf invitational and first overall in both invitationals held at Saint Mary’s. Likewise, the women have placed third in both invitationals held at SMU.

The Cardinals look to have top runners and continue to break records in both the MIAC Tournament on Oct. 27 and the NCAA Central Regionals on Nov. 10.