Nov. 3, 2007

Edwardsville, Ill. - The Mercyhurst women's cross country team closed its season Saturday with a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Cross Country Championships held in Edwardsville, Ill.

Leading the way for Mercyhurst was freshman Cherie Jackson, who turned in a time of 22:59.50 to place 32nd overall. For Jackson, it capped a fine freshman season in which she 35th or better in all eight of the team's events and captured three first-place finishes.

On Sept. 22 at the Allegheny Invitational, she became the first freshman in program history to take top honors at an event, and she repeated the feat each of the next two weeks.

Senior Victoria Caruso closed out her career on Saturday, placing 120nd overall with a time of 25:02.26. She and Allison Babcock were the lone seniors on the Mercyhurst roster this season.

Sophomore Amanda Ehrbar placed 138th, junior Sara Rex took 135th and freshman Clara Strasenburgh placed 138th to round out Mercyhurst's top five.

As a team, the Lakers totaled 461 points, finishing behind Drury and ahead of Tiffin, Northwood and Kentucky Wesleyan.

Grand Valley State--fresh off a GLIAC Championship--earned first place with their top five runners placing sixth-10th. Wayne State captured second with Rachelle Malette leading the way with a time of 21:12.33 and a first-place finish.

Mercyhurst did not qualify, but the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Missouri Southern Cross Country course in Joplin, Mo.