Western State withstood a one-two finish by Adams State athletes to win its third consecutive team title in the Division II Women's Cross Country Championships November 23 at Ashland.

The Mountaineers finished the race with 43 points to edge Adams State by three points. The margin of victory was the second smallest in the 22-year history of the event. Cal Poly nipped Air Force by two points in 1988.

Amber Klein and Zoila Gomez secured the top two spots for the Grizzlies. Klein covered the soggy 6,000-meter course in 20 minutes, 54.5 seconds, with Gomez next at 21 minutes, 9.2 seconds.

Rebekah Mackie then led a group of three Western State runners across the finish line. Mackie's third-place effort was followed by teammates Alisha Williams in fourth and defending individual champion Hannah Lawrence in the fifth spot.

Lisa Blomme came in eighth and Kristin Toney 32nd for Western State. Kim Lorimer was another top-10 performer for Adams State with a ninth-place finish.

"They (Adams State) had beaten us four times this year, twice when it really counted -- the (Rocky Mountain Athletic) conference meet and the regional meet," said Western State head coach Duane Vandenbusche. "We had to run well and be a little lucky. I think we had a little luck today."

Klein felt no ill effects from the cold conditions. "I felt good, very strong," she said. "When we got through the first 1,000 meters, we were rolling, just like in practice. We've run harder in practice than this race. Sometimes before a race I'm nervous, but today it was a quick start and I didn't have time to be nervous."

Western State continued its streak of finishing in the top three to all 11 years since it joined the NCAA, and Adams State recorded its 10th first- or second-place finish in its 11-year NCAA history.

Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan gave the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference claim to third and fourth places with 97 and 129 points, respectively.

Team results

1. Western St., 43; 2. Adams St., 46; 3. Grand Valley St., 97; 4. Northern Mich., 129; 5. Cal St. Chico, 241; 6. North Fla., 248; 7. South Dakota St., 249; 8. Kennesaw St., 255; 9. Wayne St. (Mich.), 274; 10. UC Davis, 287; 11. UC Colo. Spgs., 291; 12. Indiana (Pa.), 292; 13. Pittsburg St., 315; 14. Southern Ind., 346; 15. Wis.-Parkside, 369; 16. Neb.-Omaha, 400; 17. (tie) UC San Diego and Edinboro, 421; 19. Central Mo. St., 469; 20. Clarion, 504; 21. Adelphi, 606; 22. Stonehill, 612; 23. (tie) Carson-Newman and Mars Hill, 714.

Individual results

1. Amber Klein, Adams St., 20:54.5; 2. Zoila Gomez, Adams St., 21:09.2; 3. Rebekah Mackie, Western St., 21:28.6; 4. Alisha Williams, Western St., 21:37.9; 5. Hannah Lawrence, Western St., 21:40.1; 6. Miranda Ernst, Northern Colo., 21:56.1; 7. Marjo Venalainen, Kennesaw St., 22:00.7; 8. Lisa Blomme, Western St., 22:03.5; 9. Kim Lorimer, Adams St., 22:07.0; 10. Annmarie Housen, Cal St. Los Angeles, 22:17.9.

11. Sara Raschiatore, Indiana (Pa.), 22:23.4; 12. Shelly Vickery, Wayne St. (Mich.), 22:23.9; 13. Kadri Kelve, Emporia St., 22:24.5; 14. Shannon Antvelink, Grand Valley St., 22:25.3; 15. Janet Kogo, Harding, 22:25.5; 16. Caitlin Compton, Northern Mich., 22:27.0; 17. Romy Krueger, North Fla., 22:29.9; 18. Sheena Dauer, South Dakota St., 22:31.3; 19. Audrey Sung, UC San Diego, 22:31.8; 20. Alicia Torres, Adams St., 22:34.3.

21. Natalie Ewing, Grand Valley St., 22:36.9; 22. Xaila Laursen, North Fla., 22:37.1; 23. Emily Mortensen, Adams St., 22:37.3; 24. Carolyn Orsua, North Dakota, 22:41.8; 25. Hanna Haavikko, Harding, 22:43.8; 26. Nicole Sharp, Tarleton St., 22:44.4; 27. Carissa VanGundy, Pittsburg St., 22:47.6; 28. Tara Griffin, Ashland, 22:48.0; 29. Kara Egan, Grand Valley St., 22:48.7; 30. Jordan Seethaler, Northern Mich., 22:48.9.

31. Jeannette Seckinger, Grand Valley St., 22:50.3; 32. Kristin Toney, Western St., 22:54.0; 33. Krista O'Dell, Grand Valley St., 22:56.4; 34. Aubrey Smith, Northern Mich., 22:57.8; 35. Stephanie Bylander, Adams St., 22:58.4; 36. Nina Christensen, Hawaii Pacific, 22:59.3; 37. Sayuri Kusutani, Hawaii Pacific, 23:03.7; 38. Sarah Bouchard, Kennesaw St., 23:03.9; 39. Maren Shepherd, Western St., 23:04.4; 40. Margaret Pridgen, Cal St. Chico, 23:05.0.

41. Rebecca Winters, Grand Valley St., 23:05.1; 42. Jessica Pentz, Indiana (Pa.), 23:06.6; 43. Maria Stuber, Northern Mich., 23:07.3; 44. Mandi Long, Grand Valley St., 23:08.6; 45. Jenny Farmer, Southern Ind., 23:09.9; 46. Jennifer Lahr, Northern Mich., 23:11.9; 47. Lori Hubbart, Western St., 23:15.1; 48. Julia Downes, North Fla., 23:16.8; 49. Michelle Ellingson, Neb.-Omaha, 23:17.7; 50. Abbey Block, Pittsburg St., 23:20.1.

51. Robyn Stevens, Wis.-Parkside, 23:20.8; 52. Sopagna Eap, UC Davis, 23:21.1; 53. Sarah Vigil, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:21.1; 54. Caitlin Lenehan, St. Anselm, 23:21.4; 55. Missy Lendl, Cal St. Chico, 23:24.2; 56. Erin Woolley, South Dakota St., 23:25.1; 57. Chelsea Smith, BYU-Hawaii, 23:26.0; 58. Laura Cherdack, UC Davis, 23:26.1; 59. Jennifer James, Cal St. Chico, 23:28.5; 60. Rebecca Bullard, Indiana (Pa.), 23:29.7.

61. Elizabeth Tanui, Kennesaw St., 23:29.8; 62. Rachel Campbell, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:30.1; 63. Michaela Emick, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:30.5; 64. Janna Weeden, Wis.-Parkside, 23:31.8; 65. Casey Schneider, Southern Ind., 23:32.5; 66. Amy Averill, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:32.6; 67. Kelly Smith, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:32.9; 68. Heather Cooksey, Southern Ind., 23:33.1; 69. Krystie Ratzlaff, South Dakota St., 23:34.0; 70. Danielle Kramer, Bloomsburg, 23:36.3.

71. Sarah Hallas, Cal St. Chico, 23:36.9; 72. Priscilla Moreno, UC Davis, 23:37.3; 73. Alyssa Ruedebusch, South Dakota St., 23:37.9; 74. Lisa Gallagher, Edinboro, 23:38.6; 75. Katie Lee, Cal St. Chico, 23:39.6; 76. Tina Gray, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:40.3; 77. Jasmine Green, Cal St. Chico, 23:41.8; 78. Kelly Richards, Edinboro, 23:42.3; 79. Michelle Solone, UC Davis, 23:43.9; 80. Justine Nahimana, Abilene Christian, 23:44.1.

81. Angie Waters, Abilene Christian, 23:46.8; 82. Margaret Mohr, Pittsburg St., 23:47.1; 83. Katherine Huemmer, Northern Mich., 23:48.3; 84. Jessica Steck, Indiana (Pa.), 23:48.6; 85. Kirsten Hasemeier, Central Mo. St., 23:50.0; 86. Julie Nemergut, Edinboro, 23:51.9; 87. Erin Enright, Wis.-Parkside, 23:52.3; 88. Megan Poppens, South Dakota St., 23:52.9; 89. Mae Anna Glenn, UC Davis, 23:54.0; 90. Megan Noonan, Pittsburg St., 23:54.5.

91. Stephanie Sayler, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:54.7; 92. Bridget Stephenson, Neb.-Omaha, 23:54.8; 93. Melissa Trewilliger, Clarion, 23:55.0; 94. Megan Lund, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:57.5; 95. Charity Learn, Mansfield, 23:58.9; 96. Jennifer Ford, North Fla., 24:00.1; 97. Alexandra Jo, Kennesaw St., 24:01.1; 98. Kristin Anderson, Central Mo. St., 24:01.5; 99. Stephanie Henderson, Adelphi, 24:01.7; 100. Jenny Furlong, Wayne St. (Mich.), 24:02.9.

101. Tami Kochen, Northern Mich., 24:03.5; 102. Lillian Gardiner, UC San Diego, 24:04.4; 103. Darcy Preston, Neb.-Omaha, 24:05.0; 104. Jessica Krantz, Wis.-Parkside, 24:07.6; 105. Eva Gut. UC Davis, 24:08.8; 106. Stacy Mark, Mars Hill, 24:10.0; 107. Magdalena Polko, Kennesaw St., 24:11.5; 108. Heidi Johnson, Hillsdale, 24:11.6; 109. Melissa Moncion, Wayne St. (Mich.), 24:12.1; 110. Ashley Lucas, Central Mo. St., 24:12.6.

111. Erin Foss, South Dakota St., 24:14.0; 112. Erin O'Donnell, UC San Diego, 24:14.2; 113. Kellie Ryan, Neb.-Omaha, 24:15.1; 114. Lindsey Roberts, Edinboro, 24:16.5; 115. Evelyn Abiolia, Clarion, 24:18.3; 116. Laura Magee, North Fla., 24:19.1; 117. Laura Helhowski, Southern Ind., 24:19.8; 118. Molly Miller, Neb.-Omaha, 24:20.6; 119. Cassie Bartelt, Southern Ind., 24:22.0; 120. Bridget Sardo, Clarion, 24:25.2.

121. Katie DiPietro, Adelphi, 24:25.8; 122. Cristina Scranton, Stonehill, 24:26.5; 123. Sunny Hipple, Southern Ind., 24:26.8; 124. Bethany Detrick, Central Mo. St., 24:28.1; 125. Lyndsey Kuehn, Cal St. Chico, 24:29.0; 126. Jennifer Sauceman, Carson-Newman, 24:29.6; 127. Jen Boerner, Clarion, 24:30.0; 128. Mimi Hodgins, UC San Diego, 24:30.1; 129. Nicole Posey, North Fla., 24:30.4; 130. Abby Onelio, Pittsburg St., 24:31.2.

131. Lindsay Stalker, UC San Diego, 24:31.6; 132. Beth Schultz, Mount Olive, 24:32.9; 133. Anna Beck, Clarion, 24:33.7; 134. Lindsay De Witt, Wis.-Parkside, 24:34.5; 135. Alicia Alford, Central Mo. St., 24:35.1; 136. Jennifer Teahan, Stonehill, 24:35.1; 137. Chelsey Cerrillo, UC-Colo. Spgs., 24:37.2; 138. Jessica Neu, UC Davis, 24:38.1; 139. Sara Kofoed, North Fla., 24:38.6; 140. Lydia Flora, Southern Ind., 24:40.0.

141. Kyle Hutsey, Pittsburg St., 24:40.5; 142. Dianna Chivakos, Stonehill, 24:41.9; 143. Katherine Tornberg, South Dakota St., 24:42.7; 144. Christina Seremetis, Stonehill, 24:43.3; 145. Katie Donahue, Edinboro, 24:43.8; 146. Katie Jarzab, Clarion, 24:44.4; 147. Lexie Burrows, Wis.-Parkside, 24:45.0; 148. Megan Cox, Pittsburg St., 24:45.5; 149. Nancy Xavier, Adelphi, 24:46.2; 150. Sarah Zeisler, Neb.-Omaha, 24:47.0.

151. Meghan Bellotti, UC San Diego, 24:47.6; 152. Meaghan Strong, Indiana (Pa.), 24:48.3; 153. Kara Cross, UC San Diego, 24:48.3; 154. Genise Green, Edinboro, 24:49.7; 155. Melanie Hill, Central Mo. St., 24:49.8; 156. Erica Foltz, Central Mo. St., 24:56.7; 157. Erin Conley, Stonehill, 24:57.8; 158. Kimberly Nolan, Stonehill, 25:01.5; 159. Jennifer Locke, Indiana (Pa.), 25:05.4; 160. Alethia Ali, Adelphi, 25:10.0.

161. Anne Favolise, Wis.-Parkside, 25:10.9; 162. Kate Szafran, Clarion, 25:11.6; 163. Ashley Smoak, Anderson (S.C.), 25:30.3; 164. Tanith Forrester, Presbyterian, 25:35.8; 165. Sarah Cowhick, UC-Colo. Spgs., 25:39.7; 166. Sarah Zazzaro, Adelphi, 25:40.5; 167. Sarah Wygant, Indiana (Pa.), 25:42.0; 168. Tina Schowiak, Carson-Newman, 25:42.1; 169. Rachel Retallick, Mars Hill, 25:45.9; 170. Angela Brown, Southern Conn. St., 25:51.7.

171. Lynn Moore, Wayne St. (Mich.), 25:59.3; 172. Edith Taylor, Carson-Newman, 26:02.1; 173. Margaux Cowan-Banker, Carson-Newman, 26:08.9; 174. Deanna Bailey, Neb.-Omaha, 26:21.3; 175. Jessica Brown, Carson-Newman, 26:32.8; 176. Diane Buonpane, Adelphi, 26:40.9; 177. Katie McGrath, Adelphi, 27:04.6; 178. Tabatha Lee, Mars Hill, 27:07.6; 179. Greta Statler 636 Mars Hill, 27:49.5; 180. Julie Drake, Kennesaw St., 28:14.8.

181. Elizabeth Jamison, Mars Hill, 28:19.8; 182. Robin Anderson, Mars Hill, 28:40.1; 183. Sara Beth Henderson, Carson-Newman, 29:02.2; 184. Chelsea Haines, Mars Hill, 30:40.9.