Nov. 15, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Junior Kelsey McHugh picked up all-region honors Saturday at the NCAA Great Lakes Region Cross Country meet, while the team placed sixth in the overall standings.

McHugh (Columbus) placed 23rd overall with a time of 21:54.5 over the rain-soaked 6K course. Junior Amanda Mirochna was 30th in 22:02.5, while junior Laura Neufarth (Centerville) placed 39th with a time of 22:17.1.

Rachel Patterson (Rochester, Minn.) ran in 22:35.5 for 57th, two spots ahead of Maggie Bingham's 22:39.9.

Katie Lenahan of Cincinnati (74th in 22:53.2) and Kelley Miller (111th in 23:26.4) competed but did not have their scores count in the team total.

The sixth-place finish was the best in the current NCAA Regional setup, which was introduced in 2000. The RedHawks were also sixth in 1996, when there was a much-smaller field in district format. Miami was top team from the state of Ohio and the top team in the Mid-American Conference on Saturday.

"We had a great year and I think we just ran out of gas today," first-year head coach Rita Arndt-Molis said. "We accomplished a lot this season, including our first MAC Championship. Kelsey ran a good race today under difficult conditions.

"I am really proud of this team," Arndt-Molis continued. "They have learned how to train this season and that is the first step toward having a nationally-competitive program. We are not that far away. In a good way, the team was disappointed with the way this meet ended and that means they want more. We will now go back to work during track season, learn a little more about ourselves and head into next fall with a clear vision of making the national championships."