Sophomore Jessica Richardson (Columbus, Ind./North) ran to a fourth-place finish on Saturday afternoon to lead the Valparaiso women’s cross country team to a seventh-place finish at the 2012 Horizon League Championships in Kenosha, Wis.

The Crusaders totaled 163 points for the meet to finish ahead of Wright State and Cleveland State in the team competition.  Loyola earned the team title with 28 points and boasted the top three finishers, led by individual champion Gina Valgoi.

Richardson was the first non-Loyola runner to cross the line on Saturday, covering the five-kilometer course in 18:18 to finish in fourth place.  It marked the sophomore’s fifth top-ten finish in as many races this season.  Junior Grace Shemwell (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) ran to a 27th place finish and was the Crusaders’ second-fastest runner, crossing the line in a season-best 19:36.

Valpo’s final three scoring runners finished within 17 seconds of each other.  Freshman Dezzarae Arce (Orland Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) finished in 41^st place, posting a time of 20:07, while fellow rookie Hannah Schilling (Fraser, Mich./Lutheran North) placed 43^rd with a time of 20:13.  Rounding out the Crusaders’ top-five was senior Haley Kerlin (Rensselaer, Ind./Rensselaer), who crossed the line in 20:24, good for 48^th place.

Valparaiso concludes the 2012 campaign at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Madison, Wis. on Friday, Nov. 9.