Nov. 14, 2009

Team Results
Individual Results

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Despite returning all seven runners from last year’s sixth-place regional finish, the Miami University women’s cross country team closed out its 2009 campaign with an eighth-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional championship Saturday afternoon at the Indiana Championship Cross Country Course. The 32-team, 6K race was hosted by Indiana University.

Junior Rachel Patterson (Rochester, Mich.) was named All-Great Lakes Region after crossing in 19th place (18th in team points) to lead Miami in a career-best time of 21:34.14, making her the sixth-fastest performer in Miami history. It was just her second race of the season after returning from injury at the MAC Championship, as she came close to qualifying for the NCAA Championship. Senior Laura Neufarth (Centerville, Ohio), an all-region honoree in 2007 running in her final cross country race as a RedHawk, placed 26th (25th in team points) in 21:48.62. She was just one place out of earning all-region honors for the second time in her career.

Senior Amanda Mirochna (Naperville, Ill.), also running her last cross country race for the Red and White, finished in 55th (54th in team points), while sophomore Maggie Bingham (Carmel, Ind.) and junior Kelley Miller (Dublin, Ohio) rounded out Miami’s scoring five in 71st (70th in team points) and 75th (74th in team points), respectively. Junior Katie Lenahan (Cincinnati, Ohio) placed 91st while senior and 2008 all-region recipient Kelsey McHugh (Columbus, Ohio) crossed in 118th in her final cross country race as a RedHawk.

“We gave up a great opportunity (to qualify for the NCAA Championship),” head coach Kelly Phillips said. “Rachel Patterson and Laura Neufarth ran superb but if their teammates did what they’ve been doing all year and ran with them we easily could have been top three. It was definitely there for us to take and we blew it.”

Miami, who entered the race ranked No. 6 in the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Region poll, finished with 241 points, ahead of seven Mid-American Conference schools (only Toledo in sixth finished ahead of Miami). Notre Dame (third in the regional poll) finished first with 94 points while Ohio State (fifth in the regional poll) placed second, both of whom automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship. Michigan State’s Emily Macleod won the individual title in 20:42.70.

The RedHawks begin their 2009-10 indoor track and field season Dec. 4 at the Findlay Oiler Open.

--MURedHawks.com--