Saturday, November 13, 2004

Danielle Nunnelly (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) set a new school mark as Valparaiso's women's cross country team earned an 18th place finish on Saturday morning at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships held in Ypsilanti, Mich.

The Crusaders totaled 591 points on the day. Michigan was crowned regional champion with 40 points, followed by Notre Dame with 79 points and Michigan State 85 points.

Nunnelly led the way for the Brown and Gold with a 95th place finish in a time of 22:17.6, bettering the old school record set by Rachel Nelson (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit H.S.) in 2002 of 22:43.

Rachael Button (Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington H.S.) was the second Crusader to finish, placing 108th with a time of 22:39.6 over the six-kilometer course. Ashley Billstrom (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall H.S.) and Jobeth Schmiesing (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West H.S.) were 120th and 124th respectively with times of 22:45.4 and 22:47.5. Nelson rounded out the scoring for Valpo with a 144th place finish in a time of 23:20.6.

Heidi Nathan (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S.) finished sixth for Valpo and 154th overall with a time of 23:36.2, while Kelly Owens (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) rounded out the line-up and was 159th with a time of 23:40.4.

Valparaiso's 2004 season has now come to a close, with Nathan, Nelson, and Owens running in their final meet for the Brown and Gold.