Williams had been knocking on the door during the past three years in search of its first team title in the Division III Women's Cross Country Championships, finishing third in 1999 and second in 2000 and 2001.

The Ephs rushed through the opening this year, winning the crown in convincing fashion with four of the top 11 finishers November 23 at St. Olaf.

Williams posted a team total of 42 points, with two-time defending champion Middlebury a distant second with 145. The margin of victory is the largest in the 22-year history of the championships.

The winning effort received a huge boost from freshmen Caroline Cretti and Michelle Rorke. Cretti placed fifth and Rorke sixth, with teammate Jennifer Campbell next across the finish line.

Julia Bensen was 11th for Williams and Kathleen Marsh was the Ephs' fifth finisher in 33rd place.

"I was a little concerned with how quick the early portion of the race was, but we settled right down and began running our race," said Williams head coach Peter Farwell. "It was something to see.

"Four runners in the top 11 may not be unprecedented, but it was impressive."

Jess Manzer placed 14th and Sarah Logan came in 19th for Middlebury, which also finished second to Williams in the New England regional the week before the national championships.

Missy Buttry of Wartburg won the individual title, and had enough time to adequately catch her breath before the second-place finisher crossed the line. Buttry covered the 6,000-meter course in 20 minutes, 17.3 seconds, with runner-up Mariko Tansey Holbrook of Brandeis posting a time of 21 minutes, 12.3 seconds.

Wartburg took third place in the team standings, equaling the best national finish in its history. "Buttry was very strong throughout," said Wartburg head coach Steve Johnson. "Her title was part of an exciting day for the program."

Melissa White of Geneseo State was third and Mary Proulx of Keene State was fourth. Both women improved one spot over their 2001 finishes.

Team standings

1. Williams, 42; 2. Middlebury, 145; 3. Wartburg, 209; 4. Washington (Mo.), 256; 5. Calvin, 264; 6. Wis.-La Crosse, 270; 7. Ithaca, 275; 8.(tie) Baldwin-Wallace and Elmhurst, 281; 10. Dickinson, 288; 11. Col. of New Jersey, 305; 12. Haverford, 306; 13. Trinity (Conn.), 307; 14. Bowdoin, 313; 15. Geneseo St., 329; 16. Neb. Wesleyan, 387; 17. Cortland St., 404; 18. Emory, 407; 19. St. Olaf, 414; 20. Carleton, 420; 21. Whitworth, 452; 22. Claremont-M-S, 462; 23. Wesleyan (Conn.), 476; 24. Rhodes, 566.

Individual results

1. Missy Buttry, Wartburg, 20:17.3; 2. Mariko Tansey Holbrook, Brandeis, 21:12.3; 3. Melissa White, Geneseo St., 21:25.0; 4. Mary Proulx, Keene St., 21:28.0; 5. Caroline Cretti, Williams, 21:29.2; 6. Michelle Rorke, Williams, 21:30.4; 7. Jennifer Campbell, Williams, 21:35.6; 8. Kathleen Brice, Elmhurst, 21:44.8; 9. Lisa Nicholson, Anderson (Ind.), 21:47.3; 10. Carter Hamill, Amherst, 21:52.3.

11. Julia Bensen, Williams, 21:54.7; 12. Megan Daymont, St. Olaf, 21:58.6; 13. Jessie Lair, Calvin, 22:00.3; 14. Jess Manzer, Middlebury, 22:01.9; 15. Jane Steinemann, Haverford, 22:04.7; 16. Angela Jacquez, Claremont-M-S, 22:10.2; 17. Adrien Ricci, Elmhurst, 22:12.4; 18. Marisa Clapp, Springfield, 22:13.3; 19. Sarah Logan, Middlebury, 22:14.1; 20. Gina Lucrezi, DeSales, 22:15.7.

21. Callie Bradley, Dickinson, 22:17.6; 22. Caitlin Malloy, Brandeis, 22:19.5; 23. Julia Rudd, Wis.-La Crosse, 22:19.6; 24. Tracey Murnane, Benedictine (Ill.), 22:19.7; 25. Sarah Hastings, Calvin, 22:19.8; 26. Joanna Zieno, Geneseo St., 22:20.0; 27. Angela Davie, Emory, 22:20.6; 28. Molly Yazwinski, Middlebury, 22:21.9; 29. Sarah Spilman, Col. of New Jersey, 22:22.0; 30. Steph Hood, Principia, 22:22.3.

31. Karen Roy, Trinity (Conn.), 22:26.1; 32. Kristin Igielski, Carroll (Wis.), 22:27.7; 33. Kathleen Marsh, Williams, 22:29.1; 34. Gina Morgan, Neb. Wesleyan, 22:30.2; 35. Emily Lahowetz, Washington (Mo.), 22:30.4; 36. Natalie Shaffer, DePauw, 22:32.6; 37. Jessica Textoris, Baldwin-Wallace, 22:33.2; 38. Liz Ackley, Cortland St., 22:34.2; 39. Susan McWilliams, Oswego St., 22:36.5; 40. Kate Klein, Trinity (Conn.), 22:37.2.

41. Alyson Grant, Hamilton, 22:38.9; 42. Brooke Lane, Washington (Mo.), 22:39.2; 43. Nichole Petersen, Gust. Adolphus, 22:39.4; 44. Amanda Laytham, Ithaca, 22:40.6; 45. Beth Vesey, Col. of New Jersey, 22:44.3; 46. Morgan Burrows, Fredonia St., 22:44.9; 47. Jannae Holubar, Wartburg, 22:45.5; 48. Erin Connelly, Mary Washington, 22:46.0; 49. Erin Brice, Elmhurst, 22:46.5; 50. Dorothy Boone, Emory, 22:46.9.

51. Ellen Beth, Bowdoin, 22:47.1; 52. Katy Trandem, Wesleyan (Conn.), 22:47.6; 53. Tiffany Foster, Coe, 22:48.5; 54. Abi Gerstle, Wittenberg, 22:49.3; 55. Laura Bloedorn, Carleton, 22:49.5; 56. Lynn Katanik, Baldwin-Wallace, 22:50.7; 57. Gretchen Graham, Wartburg, 22:51.0; 58. Julie Mocadlo, Wis.-La Crosse, 22:51.6; 59. Leah Wurm, St. Benedict, 22:52.3; 60. Stephanie Oudenhoven, Wis.-La Crosse, 22:52.6.

61. Julie Deyo, St. Norbert, 22:53.6; 62. Betsy Schultz, Cortland St., 22:55.3; 63. Melody Scheefer, Williams, 22:56.2; 64. Amanda Jinks, Plattsburgh St., 22:56.7; 65. Robyn Burns, Franklin, 22:57.4; 66. Kari Holbert, Willamette, 22:57.6; 67. Kim Groseclose, Otterbein, 22:58.1; 68. Molly Morrison, North Central, 22:58.2; 69. Heather McGarvie, Moravian, 22:58.3; 70. Natalie Muren, Willamette, 22:58.4.

71. Colleen Brady, Emory, 22:59.0; 72. Elizabeth Barney, Bowdoin, 23:00.1; 73. Valerie Curtis, Lawrence, 23:01.3; 74. Susan Plissey, Messiah, 23:01.3; 75. Abigail Noble, Haverford, 23:01.6; 76. Liz Lee, Sewanee, 23:01.7; 77. Tami VerMeulen, Calvin, 23:02.4; 78. Katie Dougherty, Ursinus, 23:02.7; 79. Erin Boshe, Ithaca, 23:03.9; 80. Lacey Leinbaugh, Wartburg, 23:04.0.

81. Nora Segar, Middlebury, 23:04.6; 82. Marisa Cawley, Middlebury, 23:05.8; 83. Katie Pierce, Willamette, 23:06.9; 84. Amy Scheuerell, Loras, 23:07.3; 85. Leslie Nelson, Whitworth, 23:09.3; 86. Anne Ruminski, Ithaca, 23:12.1; 87. Amy Paine, Rhodes, 23:12.4; 88. Melanie Mikecz, Washington (Mo.), 23:12.9; 89. Sarah LaMoy, Haverford, 23:13.5; 90. Lindsay Scarborough, Col. of New Jersey, 23:14.5.

91. Mary McCudden, Connecticut Col., 23:15.9; 92. Andrea Good, East. Mennonite, 23:16.4; 93. Janna Sallade, Grove City, 23:17.8; 94. Alex Forte', Dickinson, 23:18.2; 95. Abbey Fergusson, Dickinson, 23:18.6; 96. Sarah Fitzgerald, Colorado Col., 23:20.6; 97. Jessica Austin, Whitworth, 23:21.4; 98. Emily Klein, Luther, 23:22.0; 99. Nicole Drouhard, Baldwin-Wallace, 23:22.4; 100. Sierra Witnov, Whitman, 23:22.7.

101. Kali Moody, Williams, 23:22.7; 102. Lindsay Schroepfer, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:24.0; 103. Kristen Cravotta, Ithaca, 23:25.2; 104. Courtney Quirin, Wesleyan (Conn.), 23:30.9; 105. Jen Skalko, Gust. Adolphus, 23:31.3; 106. Marybeth Sexton, Bowdoin, 23:31.8; 107. Christina Kane, Trinity (Conn.), 23:32.5; 108. Marie Brandewiede, Rhodes, 23:32.6; 109. Jennifer Southall, Baldwin-Wallace, 23:33.1; 110. Cassie Funke, Carleton, 23:33.4.

111. Shannon Klick, Widener, 23:34.2; 112. Andrea Moreland, Washington (Mo.), 23:34.2; 113. Jennifer Zucaro, Col. of New Jersey, 23:34.8; 114. Katie Aerni, Carnegie Mellon, 23:35.1; 115. Brenna Bray, St. Olaf, 23:35.3; 116. Marit Grorud, St. Olaf, 23:35.6; 117. Camille Medema, Calvin, 23:35.9; 118. Catherine Ogorzaly, Washington (Mo.), 23:36.5; 119. Jess Ellerman, Dickinson, 23:37.0; 120. Mary Phelps, Colby, 23:37.3.

121. Katherine Landry, Bowdoin, 23:37.8; 122. Amy Street, Dickinson, 23:38.3; 123. Lillian Jones, Ithaca, 23:38.6; 124. Michela Adrian, Middlebury, 23:38.8; 125. Natalie Karas, Washington (Mo.), 23:38.9; 126. Karen Jordan, Keene St., 23:39.6; 127. Kaela Fisher, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:40.0; 128. Aimee Gibbs, Chris. Newport, 23:40.2; 129. Andrea Grunst, Carleton, 23:40.7; 130. Kelly Yacevich, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:40.8.

131. Susanne Swanson, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:41.0; 132. Tara Gruskiewicz, Baldwin-Wallace, 23:42.9; 133. Liz Ericson, Wartburg, 23:43.3; 134. Bre-Anne McKenna, Bowdoin, 23:43.9; 135. Jennifer Rettke, Geneseo St., 23:44.3; 136. Krista Phelps, Elmhurst, 23:46.0; 137. Claire Fawcett, Haverford, 23:46.8; 138. Liz Brown, Trinity (Conn.), 23:47.1; 139. Kelsey Rinehart, Middlebury, 23:47.3; 140. Allie Baumler, Dickinson, 23:47.6.

141. Sarah Alaei, Claremont-M-S, 23:49.0; 142. Leeann Rheaume, Trinity (Conn.), 23:49.2; 143. Elizabeth Tedsen, Claremont-M-S, 23:49.3; 144. Kristi Dickey, Whitworth, 23:51.9; 145. Tara Bruck, Wartburg, 23:52.9; 146. Anastasia Mukhina, Haverford, 23:53.7; 147. Elizabeth Abbey, Whitworth, 23:54.2; 148. Jill McKiernan, Carleton, 23:54.7; 149. Rachel Stein, Geneseo St., 23:57.7; 150. Jen MacNeal, Cortland St., 23:58.3.

151. Katherine Creswell, Bates, 24:00.0; 152. Beth Neal, Wartburg, 24:00.4; 153. Kristen Wilson, Haverford, 24:00.9; 154. Becca Foulger, Cortland St., 24:02.7; 155. Molly Courtney, Neb. Wesleyan, 24:03.2; 156. Tiffany Pogodzinski, Wis.-La Crosse, 24:04.1; 157. Amy Belleba, Wis.-La Crosse, 24:04.9; 158. Stacey Havaich, Baldwin-Wallace, 24:05.7; 159. Lindsay Hyman, Ithaca, 24:06.3; 160. Brittany Allen, Wesleyan (Conn.), 24:06.7.

161. Kristen Reale, Geneseo St., 24:06.9; 162. Jodi VerMeulen, Calvin, 24:06.9; 163. Emily Hulme, Dickinson, 24:08.4; 164. Kala Hardacker, Bowdoin, 24:08.5; 165. Jen Walter, Calvin, 24:08.9; 166. Daisy Demelo, Occidental, 24:09.2; 167. Jennifer Dunlap, Baldwin-Wallace, 24:09.6; 168. Amy Foss, Claremont-M-S, 24:10.1; 169. Erin Dinan, Cortland St., 24:11.2; 170. Kezia Manlove, St. Olaf, 24:12.0.

171. Briana Bayerdorfer, Col. of New Jersey, 24:12.0; 172. Karen Auteri, Col. of New Jersey, 24:12.0; 173. Laura Hudson, Carleton, 24:13.3; 174. Jenn Baudreau, Wesleyan (Conn.), 24:15.6; 175. Alison Traffanstedt, Carleton, 24:17.6; 176. Ariel Perkins, Wis.-La Crosse, 24:18.1; 177. Kathryn Bexfield, Haverford, 24:18.6; 178. Sarah Tinholt, Calvin, 24:19.4; 179. Brianne Capasso, Cortland St., 24:20.5; 180. Sally Briggs, Geneseo St., 24:20.6.

181. Erin Smith, Wesleyan (Conn.), 24:21.4; 182. Aurora Burd, Claremont-M-S, 24:21.8; 183. Rachel Pedersen, St. Olaf, 24:22.4; 184. Kim Sonne, Claremont-M-S, 24:22.7; 185. Alison Swade, Elmhurst, 24:31.2; 186. Rebecca Jamieson, Whitworth, 24:33.1; 187. Kami Long, Neb. Wesleyan, 24:34.0; 188. Becky Schaumberg, Carleton, 24:35.5; 189. Alyssa Tingle, Ithaca, 24:36.0; 190. Mindy Kuhl, Washington (Mo.), 24:41.1.

191. Sarah Hackett, Trinity (Conn.), 24:41.9; 192. Meredith Fahrner, St. Olaf, 24:42.3; 193. Krystal Laurence, Elmhurst, 24:42.7; 194. Elizabeth Wester, Rhodes, 24:45.2; 195. Betsy Bogler, Rhodes, 24:46.7; 196. Marguerite King, Rhodes, 24:52.1; 197. Marisa Abernethy, Emory, 24:53.4; 198. Mayra Garcia, Claremont-M-S, 24:54.4; 199. Jessie Lynch, Cortland St., 24:57.8; 200. Heather Thomsen, Whitworth, 25:01.0.

201. Shannon Brennan, Trinity (Conn.), 25:03.3; 202. Cara Chebuske, Wesleyan (Conn.), 25:03.5; 203. Kathyrn Hack, Geneseo St., 25:04.3; 204. Kylie Bendfeldt, Neb. Wesleyan, 25:12.0; 205. Meghen Kelly, Wesleyan (Conn.), 25:15.4; 206. Amanda Baker, Whitworth, 25:16.0; 207. Erin Manning, Emory, 25:17.4; 208. Nikki Craver, Emory, 25:41.5; 209. Lauren Glas, Rhodes, 25:43.6; 210. Dana Palumbo, Col. of New Jersey, 25:47.5.

211. Emily Hoyt, Emory, 25:52.0; 212. Kelly Van Guilder, Elmhurst, 26:18.8; 213. Haley McConaghy, Rhodes, 26:29.8; Kari Koos, St. Olaf, did not finish; Kate Cary, Bowdoin, did not finish.