Sept. 14, 2007

South Bend, Ind. - Freshman Cherie Jackson placed 35th in a field of 218 runners, leading the Mercyhurst women's cross country team to a 27th place finish at the National Catholic Cross Country Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.

Friday's event featured 37 teams, including 12 Division I squads and the Lakers finished with 726 points, just behind Saint Vincent and ahead of Wheeling Jesuit. Taking first was Notre Dame, which had the first-place winner in Marissa Treece and four others in the top seven.

Jackson, who finished third at the CALU Invitational last Saturday, posted a time of 19:12 on the 5K course. She was just the seventh non-Division I runner to cross the finish line.

Mercyhurst's next finisher was freshman Jennifer Mieczkowski, who recorded a time of 20:43, which placed her 150th. Classmate Christie Turak finished 14 seconds later in 167th place. Senior Victoria Caruso placed 215th with a time of 21:35 and freshman Emily Monahan rounded out Mercyhurst's top five with a 223rd-place finish and a time of 21:47.

Sophomore Amanda Ehrbar and Clara Strasenburgh finished back-to-back at 231 and 232 with times of 21:56 and 21:57 respectively.

For complete results of the National Catholic Invitational, click here.

The Lakers will be in action on Sept. 22 at the Allegheny Invitational.