Five Adams State runners finished among the top 11 scorers and crossed the finish line within a minute of each other to easily claim the Grizzlies' first Division II Women's Cross Country Championships team title since the end of their eight-victory streak in 1999.

Sophomores Emily Mortensen and Victoria Martinez led the way as the Grizzlies outdistanced runner-up and defending-champion Western State November 22 at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. Only Western State's Alisha Williams, the top returning individual finisher from last year's championships, was able to keep pace with Adams State's pack, which outscored the Mountaineers by 63 points.

Junior Stephanie Bylander, senior Beth Lee and junior Virginia Coindreau rounded out scoring for Adams State, which finished 105 points ahead of third-place Grand Valley State. Cal State Chico finished fourth and Harding placed fifth.

The victory convincingly ended Western State's three-year hold on the team title and opens a new chapter in the long rivalry between the two Colorado schools. The two teams have claimed the top two spots in nine of the last 12 championships races.

The title is Adams State's ninth since the school moved into Division II from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Coach Damon Martin, who also tutored Adams State's men's team to victory later in the day, has coached all of those championship teams, as well as two Adams State men's champions.

"I'm really proud of them. They handled themselves with class and were true champions," Martin said of both the men's and women's teams, which swept the Division II team championships for the fifth time. The teams also combined twice to sweep NAIA titles.

"It can be easy for me to take this for granted, but today was just awesome for all of us," Martin said. "They worked hard all year and wanted to get it done. It's just great to see us back on top."

Like the Adams State men, the women finished the season unbeaten through three invitational meets, the conference and regional championships and the national meet.

In a good day for underclassmen, sophomore Chelsea Smith of Brigham Young-Hawaii won the individual women's title, finishing the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20:33.9 -- 25 seconds ahead of freshman runner-up Mindy Sawtelle of Indiana (Pennsylvania).

Smith, who finished 57th as a freshman in 2002, is the only runner from the school who ever has qualified for the Division II women's championships. She also becomes the first Brigham Young-Hawaii athlete in any sport to win an NCAA individual title.

"Everyone was taking the race so seriously," Smith said. "I just wanted to go out and have a good time. It was lots of fun."

Team results

1. Adams St., 38; 2. Western St., 101; 3. Grand Valley St., 143; 4. Cal St. Chico, 201; 5. (tie) Harding and South Dakota St., 264; 7. Northern Mich., 268, 8. Tampa, 271; 9. South Dakota, 280; 10. Stonehill, 286; 11. North Fla., 310; 12. Southern Ind., 318; 13. Edinboro, 320; 14. Colorado Mines, 344; 15. Ala.-Huntsville, 347; 16. (tie) UC San Diego and Wayne St. (Mich.), 354; 18. Pittsburg St., 382; 19. Indiana (Pa.), 385; 20. Mo. Southern St., 439; 21. Cal St. Stanislaus, 474; 22. Mass.-Lowell, 613; 23. Mars Hill, 712; 24. Lees-McRae, 777.

Individual results

1. Chelsea Smith, BYU-Hawaii, 20:33.9; 2. Mindy Sawtelle, Indiana (Pa.), 20:59.0; 3. Janet Kogo, Harding, 21:05.5; 4. Emily Mortensen, Adams St., 21.16.7; 5. Vanessa Andes, East Stroudsburg, 21:35.5; 6. Alisha Williams, Western St., 21:38.8; 7. Nina Christensen, Hawaii Pacific, 21:39.3; 8. Alison Macsas, Tampa, 21:42.2; 9. Natalie Ewing, Grand Valley St., 21:45.6; 10. Victoria Martinez, Adams St., 21:47.0.

11. Paula Klepadlo, Bryant, 21:47.2; 12. Sarah Bouchard, Cal St. L.A., 21:51.0; 13. Stephanie Bylander, Adams St., 21:52.8; 14. Brianne Lippoldt, Fort Lewis, 21:55.3; 15. Jessica Neva, North Dakota, 22:06.2; 16. Beth Lee, Adams St., 22:06.9; 17. Melissa Terwilliger, Clarion, 22:09.9; 18. Missy Lendi, Cal St. Chico, 22:11.5; 19. Virginia Coindreau, Adams St., 22:14.4; 20. Kimberly Jacques, Western St., 22:18.0.

21. Laura Trevellyan, Western Wash., 22:18.5; 22. Heather Beresford, Colorado Mines, 22:19.1; 23. Justine Nahimana, Abilene Christian, 22:19.4; 24. Kara Egan, Grand Valley St., 22:20.4; 25. Nicole Posey, North Fla., 22:20.8; 26. Breanne Steffens, SIU Edwardsville, 22:21.2; 27. Lindsey Mills, West Ga., 22:21.4; 28. Jennifer Lahr, Northern Mich., 22:21.7; 29. Helen Singeoi, Harding, 22:22.7; 30. Rebekah Walter, Adams St., 22:23.8.

31. Jennifer Feely, South Dakota, 22:28.0; 32. Kelly Stewart, Shippensburg, 22:31.7; 33. Kathryn Hamera, Mo.-Rolla, 22:32.6; 34. Tina Firouz, UC San Diego, 22:33.6; 35. Romy Krueger, North Fla., 22:34.4; 36. Kelly Ortlieb, Cal St. Chico, 22:34.4; 37. Lori Hubbart, Western St., 22:36.0; 38. Kristin Toney, Western St., 22:40.8; 39. Jael Koech, Fla. Southern, 22:41.6; 40. Dee Dee Haefling, Tampa, 22:44.7.

41. Dianna Chivakos, Stonehill, 22:46.3; 42. Kristin Anderson, Central Mo. St., 22:48.1; 43. Krista O'Dell, Grand Valley St., 22:48.9; 44. Jenny Farmer, Southern Ind., 22:53.2; 45. Heather Cooksey, Southern Ind., 22:55.2; 46. Margaret Pridgen, Cal St. Chico, 22:57.0; 47. Amy Phillips, Ala.-Huntsville, 22:57.7; 48. Jen Noelken, Mo. Southern St., 22:58.8; 49. Kyle Hutsey, Pittsburg St., 22:59.5; 50. Heather Wilmoth, Edinboro, 23:00.7.

51. Jessica Moldovan, Edinboro, 23:01.2. 52. Becka Mansheim, South Dakota St., 23:03.3; 53. Kaitlin Buckley, Stonehill, 23:05.0; 54. Kimberly Roush, Western St., 23:05.1; 55. Sarah Coghlan, Western St., 23:09.2; 56. Hannah Davey, Colorado Mines; 23:10.0; 57. Elizabeth Bragg, Tampa, 23:11.0; 58. Jeannette Seckinger, Grand Valley St., 23:12.2; 59. Kimberly Nolan, Stonehill, 23:12.4; 60. Melissa Moncion, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:14.4.

61. Stephanie Holley, Cal St. Stanislaus, 23:14.7; 62. Jenni Culbertson, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:16.3; 63. Sheena Dauer, South Dakota St., 23:16.9; 64. Sarah Reardon, Harding, 23:17.4; 65. Amber Friedrich, South Dakota, 23:17.4; 66. Katie Tomberg, South Dakota St., 23:18.l; 67. Brooke McDaniel, Ala.-Huntsville, 23:18.4; 68. Nicole Plante, Mass.-Lowell, 23:19.3; 69. Stephanie Howe, Northern Mich., 23:19.9; 70. Megan Doerr, Grand Valley St., 23:20.7.

71. Amanda Roemen, South Dakota, 23:21.1; 72. Adrian Chouinard, Grand Valley St., 23:22.3; 73. Kristina Owen, Michigan Tech, 23:23.5; 74. Megan Nelson, Pittsburg St., 23:25.1; 75. Laura Magee, North Fla., 23:25.6; 76. Maren Shepherd, Western St., 23:26.0; 77. Jane Stieber, Northern Mich., 23:26.9; 78. Kaylee Keating, South Dakota St., 23:27.0; 79. Katherine Herring, Ala.-Huntsville, 23:28.6; 80. Michelle DiMeo, UC San Diego, 23:29.8.

81. Kelly Richards, Edinboro, 23:30.5; 82. Ashley Caffey, Mo. Southern St., 23:31.1; 83. Sarah Montez, Cal St. Chico, 23:31.9; 84. Casey Schneider, Southern Ind., 23:33.3; 85. Tracy Wills, Northern Mich., 23:34.0; 86. Alicia Torres, Adams St., 23:34.1; 87. Megan Poppens, South Dakota St., 23:34.6; 88. Maria Stuber, Northern Mich., 23:36.2; 89. Aimee Nielsen, South Dakota, 23:37.6; 90. Katie Lee, Cal St. Chico, 23:39.1.

91. Erin Wilson, Tampa, 23:42.3; 92. Carissa VanGundy, Pittsburg St., 23:43.9; 93. Lindsay Stalker, UC San Diego, 23:45.8; 94. Melissa Burgin, Southern Ind., 23:48.0; 95. Jennifer Stief, Cal St. Stanislaus, 23:49.2; 96. Amy Averill, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:49.6; 97. Gretta Simpson, Colorado Mines, 23:50.8; 98. Faith Kejbou, Wayne St. (Mich.), 23:50.8; 99. Jessica Steck, Indiana (Pa.), 23:51.3; 100. Megan Russell, Mo. Southern St., 23:51.8.

101. Abbey Oshel, Pittsburg St., 23:56.1; 102. Amy Steckelberg, South Dakota, 23:57.7; 103. Kelly Chaisson, Stonehill, 23:57.8; 104. Jennifer James, Cal St. Chico, 23:58.5; 105. Jessica Pingrey, Harding, 23:59.8; 106. Sarah Wygant, Indiana (Pa.), 24:01.1; 107. Tammy Kochen, Northern Mich., 24:02.4; 108. Caitlin Heider, Ala.-Huntsville, 24:02.8; 109. Julie Nemergut, Edinboro, 24:04.6; 110. Natalie Creech, Wingate, 24:05.7.

111. Krystie Ratzlaff, South Dakota St., 24:06.3; 112. Cristina Scranton, Stonehill, 24:07.5; 113. Genise Green, Edinboro, 24:07.8; 114. Erin O'Donnell, UC San Diego, 24:08.2; 115. Elizabeth Shanks, Colorado Mines, 24:08.5; 116. Elizabeth Martin, Mount Olive, 24:08.6; 117. Jessica Pentz, Indiana (Pa.), 24:08.9; 118. Lillian Gardiner, UC San Diego, 24:09.3; 119. Jennifer Buller, South Dakota, 24:10.8; 120. Angela Brown, Southern Conn. St., 24:11.0.

121. Desiree Dvorak, Cal St. Stanislaus, 24:11.6; 122. Steph Sliwinski, Grand Valley St., 24:12.6; 123. Jessica Kalafut, Northern Mich., 24:15.1; 124. Rachel Campbell, Wayne St. (Mich.), 24:15.7; 125. Amber Smith, North Fla., 24:16.0; 126. Lisa Gallagher, Edinboro, 24:16.3; 127. Renee Moncion, Wayne St. (Mich.), 24:17.5; 128. Ashley Adams, South Dakota St., 24:18.2; 129. Victoria Echeverria, Harding, 24:19.1; 130. Laura Cohen, Cal St. Chico, 24:19.7.

131. Kelly Price, North Fla., 24:20.0; 132. Linda Scavarda, Ala.-Huntsville, 24:20.4; 133. Amanda Felder, UC San Diego, 24:22.3; 134. Loren Large, Colorado Mines, 24:25.9; 135. Nicole Blaesser, Indiana (Pa.), 24:26.5; 136. Greta Statler, Mars Hill, 24:26.9; 137. Laura Helhowski, Southern Ind., 24:27.9; 138. Rebecca Bullard, Indiana (Pa.), 24:29.8; 139. Dana DeIngenis, Stonehill, 24:30.4; 140. Shannon Fredeen, Cal St. Stanislaus, 24:34.3.

141. Ruth Minnick, Wayne St. (Mich.), 24:34.4; 142. Jennifer Sauceman, Carson-Newman, 24:35.8; 143. Katy Makstutis, Indiana (Pa.), 24:36.3; 144. Elizabeth Leigh, North Fla., 24:37.0; 145. Rachel McGowan, Mo. Southern St., 24:37.7; 146. Megan Gaudet, Stonehill, 24:38.8; 147. Kim Dunker, Tampa, 24:45.5; 148. Lesley Davis, Ala.-Hunstville, 24:47.4; 149. Kathy Read, UC San Diego, 24:47.7; 150. Mary Brown, Harding, 24:47.8.

151. Geybi Garibay, Cal St. Stanislaus, 24:48.1; 152. Amanda Musick, Tusculum, 24:49.2; 153. Robin Osborne, Mass.-Lowell, 24:50.2; 154. Gwendolyn Woods, Colorado Mines, 24:54.1; 155. Stephanie Robner, Pittsburg St., 24:56.0; 156. Michelle Wilkinson, Mass.-Lowell, 24:58.9; 157. Jessica Deatrick, Mo. Southern St., 25.03.0; 158. Lydia Flora, Southern Ind., 25:04.2; 159. Katherine Prichard, Mars Hill, 25:09.6; 160. Erin Blaisdell, Mass.-Lowell, 25:09.9.

161. Melanie Peddle, Colorado Mines, 25:16.3; 162. Shannon Loewke, Edinboro, 25:20.2; 163. Jessica Cornett, Harding, 25:20.6; 164. Cassandra Bartelt, Southern Ind., 25:21.8; 165. Mary Shipley, Mars Hill, 25:22.8; 166. Ana Tsukano, Tampa, 25:25.5; 167. Megan Fairclough, Ala.-Huntsville, 25:26.3; 168. Nicole Johnson, Cal St. Stanislaus, 25:26.8; 169. Alisha Adams, Mo. Southern St., 25:30.7; 170. Christina Buck, Cal St. Stanislaus; 25:30.7.

171. Erin Click, Mo. Southern St., 25:41.9; 172. Malissa Martin, Tampa, 25:58.2; 173. Mairy Trexler, Lees-McRae, 26:00.2; 174. Casey Willis, Lees-McRae, 26:05.1; 175. Angela Chappell, Lees-McRae, 26:05.5; 176. Cassandra Paffie, North Fla., 26:12.3; 177. Marty Garrison, Pittsburg St., 26:13.0; 178. Amy VanGundy, Pittsburg St., 26:18.8; 179. Chelsea Haines, Mars Hill, 26:23.5; 180. Karen Cloutier, Mass.-Lowell, 26:29.4.

181. Tabatha Lee, Mars Hill, 26:33.1; 182. Rebecca Johnson, Lees-McRae, 26:42.6; 183. Leslie Thurman, Lees-McRae, 26:53.9; 184. Ashley McCauley, Mars Hill, 27:03.8; 185. Lashanda Williams, Lees-McRae, 27:19.9; 186. Claire Weeks, Lees-McRae, 14:03; 187. Sarah Kirane, Mass.-Lowell, 27:30.8; 188. Michelle Russell, Mass.-Lowell, 27:40.9; 189. Erin McKee, Mars Hill, 28:39.9.