#10 U-Mary women's cross country can lean on experience at National Championships

Bismarck, ND – For the second straight year, the University of Mary women’s cross country team will compete at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Featuring five returning runners on their seven person team, the country’s tenth ranked squad hopes their experience will allow them to finish closer to their national ranking as opposed to their 18th place finish in 2009.

One of several championships being held in Louisville, KY, during the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival, the Marauders are one of 24 teams competing for the title on Saturday, Dec. 4. The 6K event will be held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, beginning at 11 AM central time (12 noon eastern).

Northern Sun Coach of the Year Dennis Newell directed the Marauders to a second place finish in the NSIC championships and a fourth place finish at the NCAA Central Region championships.

Melissa Agnew, a sophomore from Onamia, MN, has paced the Marauders in the last five races and earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors after placing 10th at the regional championships. Her twin sister, Jennifer, placed 18th overall at the regional meet.

Both Agnews have made significant strides in their second year at U-Mary. Melissa was the third U-Mary runner to cross the finish line while Melissa was sixth at the 2009 championships.

A third sophomore, Dakota Wolf of Dickinson, ND, finished third among U-Mary harriers at the regional. She was second among Marauders runners at the national meet last year.

Two seniors round out the U-Mary returning five. Irene Kosgei led the Marauders at the championships last year. The Kapsabee, Kenya, native finished 69th overall and 53rd in the team standings in 2009. Alyson Piccolo (Stanwood, WA) was the fourth U-Mary runner to cross the finish line. They are the only two upperclassmen running for the Marauders.  

Rounding out the Marauders squad are two freshmen from Montana, Kayla Carlson of Big Fork and Nocona Frame of Glendive. The pair had a strong showing at their first regional meet, placing fourth and fifth among the U-Mary competitors.