Middlebury overcame a muddy course and tough foes to win the closest Division III Women’s Cross Country Championships competition in history November 18 at Wilmington (Ohio).

The Panthers edged New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Amherst by one point to win their fourth title since 2000, but first since 2003. Calvin finished third, just five points behind — which was the margin of the championships’ previous closest races at the 1990 and 1991 meets.

Middlebury, which placed three runners among the top 30 in the championships’ biggest field ever, was ready for both the competition and the conditions, said coach Terry Aldrich, who has coached all four championship teams.

"These were the most difficult conditions we’ve ever run in," he said. "There was standing water throughout the course, with our racers having to run in 6- to 8-inch-deep mud at times.

"This team came together mentally and physically as well as any team I’ve ever coached. This is a credit to them and the effort they put in during the type of training that we do, preparing them for any conditions."

Amherst held a five-point advantage over the Panthers after each team’s first four runners crossed the finish line, but Middlebury’s fifth runner, senior Makely Lyon, put eight seconds and five scoring runners between her and Amherst’s fifth scorer to claim the title.

Sophomore Alexandria Krieg led Middlebury, finishing eighth among scoring runners and 10th overall. Seniors Andrea Giddings and Erin Archard also were top-30 finishers.

With the victory, Middlebury tied St. Thomas (Minnesota) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh for second in total team championships, with four each. Cortland State won seven titles between 1989 and 1997.

Another school claimed its first title at the championships when Willamette junior Sarah Zerzan left the dueling team competitors behind to win the individual crown by 20 seconds over runner-up Caitlin Bradley of Dickinson.

Zerzan slogged through mud and standing water resulting from about 5 inches of rain to finish the 6-kilometer race in 22 minutes, 31 seconds.

"It was difficult and very challenging, but everyone else was running in the same mud," Zerzan said. "You can’t let it defeat you."

Zerzan, who qualified for the final with a victory in the West regional championship, took the lead in the second half of the race and steadily stretched her lead to about 100 meters at the finish line.

"She just kept pulling away," said Willamette coach Matt McGuirk. "She ran a great race. I think she would have been at the front even if it was dry. The course was extremely difficult."

"It was like running in a swamp," Zerzan agreed. "The water frequently went over our ankles. I’ve never run in consistent mud like that. I’m from California and we don’t get that much rain."

1. Sarah Zerzan, Willamette, 22:31; 2. Caitlin Bradley, Dickinson, 22:51; 3. Sarah Spencer, Grinnell, 22:52; 4. Toni Wiszowaty, Plattsburgh St., 22:53; 5. Beth Herndon, Washington, 22:56; 6. Christina Overbeck, Calvin, 23:09; 7. Heather Wilson, Amherst, 23:11; 8. Hailey Harren, Gust. Adolphus, 23:12; 9. Ellen Davis, Wesleyan (Conn.), 23:17; 10. Alexandra Krieg, Middlebury, 23:19.

Complete results are available at NCAA Online.

Team results

1. Middlebury, 144; 2. Amherst, 145; 3. Calvin, 149; 4. Washington-St. Louis, 186; 5. Tufts, 214; 6. Dickinson, 225; 7. Grinnell, 237; 8. Williams, 238; 9. Geneseo St., 266; 10. Case Reserve, 295; 11. Luther, 333; 12. Wis.-Eau Claire, 375; 13. North Central (Ill.), 398; 14. Emory, 416; 15. Wis.-La Crosse, 434; 16. Carleton, 438; 17. Keene St., 457; 18. St. Thomas (Minn.), 463; 19. Chicago, 475; 20. Willamette, 476; 21. Ithaca, 491; 22. TCNJ, 506; 23. Neb. Wesleyan, 550; 24. Haverford, 562; 25. Allegheny, 613; 25. Colorado Col., 613; 27. Puget Sound, 627; 28. DePauw, 629; 29. Plattsburgh St., 678; 30. Ohio Northern, 696; 31. Elizabethtown, 725; 32. Trinity (Tex.), 824.

Individual results

1. Sarah Zerzan, Willamette, 22:31; 2. Caitlin Bradley, Dickinson, 22:51; 3. Sarah Spencer, Grinnell, 22:52; 4. Toni Wiszowaty, Plattsburgh St., 22:53; 5. Beth Herndon, Washington, 22:56; 6. Christina Overbeck, Calvin, 23:09; 7. Heather Wilson, Amherst, 23:11; 8. Hailey Harren, Gust. Adolphus, 23:12; 9. Ellen Davis, Wesleyan (Conn.), 23:17; 10. Alexandra Krieg, Middlebury, 23:19.

11. Kim Partee, Amherst, 23:19; 12. Karen Prisby, Colby, 23:20; 13. Camille Medema, Calvin, 23:21; 14. Katie Wieferich, Wooster, 23:24; 15. Amber Druien, North Central (Ill.), 23:28; 16. Katy O’Brien, Tufts, 23:31; 17. Marcia Taddy, Wis.-Platteville, 23:35; 18. Liz Montgomery, Geneseo St., 23:35; 19. Becca Jordahl, Wis.-River Falls, 23:36; 20. Lydia Singer, Calvin, 23:37,

21. Jenny Graef, Wis.-Oshkosh, 23:37; 22. Tricia Frisella, Washington-St. Louis, 23:38; 23. Janet Dobyns, Luther, 23:38; 24. Melissa Jones, Emory, 23:39; 25. Andrea Giddings, Middlebury, 23:40; 26. Rachel Blasiak, Ithaca, 23:40; 27. Vidthya Abraham, Chicago, 23:41; 28. Breanne Lucey, Keene St., 23:42; 29. Erin Archard, Middlebury, 23:42; 30. Catherine Beck, Tufts, 23:44.

31. Rachel Asher, Williams, 23:45; 32. Kathryn Moore, Bates, 23:50; 33. Stephanie Nothelle, Case Reserve, 23:53; 34. Esther Erb, Case Reserve, 23:54; 35. Sara Brady, Grinnell, 23:54; 36. Evelyn Sharkey, Tufts, 23:56; 37. Angie Berry, Central (Iowa), 23:59; 38. Katie Theisen, St. Thomas (Minn.), 24:00; 39. Jessica Griffin, North Central (Ill.), 24:00; 40. Elise Bennett, Luther, 24:00.

41. Kate Meyer, Carleton, 24:01; 42. Tamma Carleton, Lewis & Clark, 24:02; 43. Molly Warner, Wis.-Eau Claire, 24:03; 44. Teri Wilson, Brockport St., 24:04; 45. Meg Ray, Amherst, 24:05; 46. Beth Lutz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 24:06; 47. Tyler Mulkin, Washington-St. Louis, 24:07; 48. Gillian Tedeschi, Williams, 24:07; 49. Shauneen Garrahan, Amherst, 24:09; 50. Lindsay Nadolski, Ithaca, 24:09.

51. Meghan Nolan, Geneseo St., 24:10; 52. Laura Paulsen, Johns Hopkins, 24:11; 53. Amanda Laesch, North Central (Ill.), 24:12; 54. Stephanie Westcott, Keene St., 24:12; 55. Liz Gleason, Williams, 24:14; 56. Shannon Griggs, Geneseo St., 24:18; 57. Anna King, Colby, 24:19; 58. Claire Schultz, Middlebury, 24:20; 59. Nyika Corbett, Swarthmore, 24:21; 60. Maggie Noonan, Anderson (Ind.), 24:22.

61. Kristen Painter, Wis.-La Crosse, 24:23; 62. Kristen Bowhers, Case Reserve, 24:25; 63. Darcy McDonald, Dickinson, 24:25; 64. Kirsten Lind, Dickinson, 24:26; 65. Julie Lauterbach, Whitworth, 24:27; 66. Avery Kelly, Redlands, 24:28; 67. Erin Fisher, Elizabethtown, 24:28; 68. Makely Lyon, Middlebury, 24:29; 69. Becca Trosch, Dickinson, 24:30; 70. Calah Schlabach, Calvin, 24:31.

71. Kelly Sullivan, Salisbury, 24:33; 72. Amy DiBianca, Emory, 24:33; 73. Karyn Wheeler, Case Reserve, 24:35; 74. Mallory Harlin, Williams, 24:35; 75. Elise Tropiano, Amherst, 24:37; 76. Dilshanie Perera, Chicago, 24:38; 77. Amber Brandenburger, Neb. Wesleyan, 24:39; 78. Sophia Galleher, Amherst, 24:39; 79. Erin Kelley, Carroll (Wis.), 24:39; 80. Kate Pentak, Washington-St. Louis, 24:40.

81. Emily Timmer, Puget Sound, 24:42; 82. Raquel Morgan, Tufts, 24:42; 83. Katie Ryan, Grinnell, 24:42; 84. Devyn Young, Middlebury, 24:43; 85. Lauren Bergstrom, Calvin, 24:43; 86. Melinda Keesee, Otterbein, 24:43; 87. Christy Finke, Geneseo St., 24:43; 88. Trisha Sliker, Rochester Inst., 24:44; 89. Nora McIver-Sherida, Carleton, 24:45; 90. Lindsay Harkema, Washington-St. Louis, 24:46.

91. Jennifer Adams, Keene St., 24:47; 92. Allison Louthan, Grinnell, 24:47; 93. Becky Bessinger, Grinnell, 24:49; 94. Jenna Fasulo, TCNJ, 24:50; 95. Laura Straw, Dickinson, 24:50; 96. Amanda Phillips, Lewis & Clark, 24:51; 97. Nora Youngs, Smith, 24:52; 98. Maria Monks, MIT, 24:54; 99. Autumn Swan, Hartwick, 24:54; 100. Rachel Wobeter, Luther, 24:55.

101. Brittany Hubbard, Neb. Wesleyan, 24:56; 102. Marisa Mele, Elmhurst, 24:56; 103. Jane Weber, Haverford, 24:57; 104. Elly Teitsworth, Williams, 24:58; 105. Darci Walthew, Ohio Northern, 24:58; 106. Maddie Coffman, Willamette, 24:59; 107. Meagan Herlache, Wis.-La Crosse, 25:00; 108. Shana Shosky, Pacific (Ore.), 25:00; 109. Devin Parker, Luther, 25:01; 110. Michelle Corkum, Allegheny, 25:01.

111. Brittany Dick, Ripon, 25:02; 112. Ellie Lutz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 25:03; 113. Adrienne Gagnier, Rochester Inst., 25:04; 114. Christina Locke, Wis.-Eau Claire, 25:04; 115. Brittany Hodgson, Puget Sound, 25:04; 116. Lauren Shores, Emory, 25:05; 117. Jill Wagaman, Wartburg, 25:05; 118. Jennifer Torpey, Tufts, 25:06; 119. Kristina Pfeiffer, Dickinson, 25:07; 120. Kristen Howe, Wis.-La Crosse, 25:08.

121. Anna Glowacki, St. Thomas (Minn.), 25:08; 122. McKenzie Clemens, Alfred, 25:09; 123. Julie Ullmeyer, TCNJ, 25:09; 124. Scarlett Graham, Allegheny, 25:10; 125. Jenny Olin, St. Thomas (Minn.), 25:10; 126. Erin Weier, St. Olaf, 25:10; 127. Alyssa Recny, Plattsburgh St., 25:10; 128. Annick Lamar, Haverford, 25:10; 129. Lacee Schrupp, Hamline, 25:11; 130. Bridget Baldwin, Neb. Wesleyan, 25:12.

131. Elizabeth Di Nino, Ohio Northern, 25:12; 132. Elizabeth Hart, Willamette, 25:13; 133. Megan Gray, St. Mary’s (Ind.), 25:14; 134. Anna Bourman, Martin Luther, 25:14; 135. Abby Sheldon, Chicago, 25:14; 136. March Thompson, Colorado Col., 25:15; 137. Jessica Francois, Kenyon, 25:17; 138. Karen Merrill, Geneseo St., 25:18; 139. Kelsey Barale, Carleton, 25:18; 140. Lissy Robie, Williams, 25:18.

141. Elizabeth Eder, Trinity (Tex.), 25:19; 142. Emily Mason, DePauw, 25:20; 143. Karen Ziga, Frank. & Marsh., 25:20; 144. Ashley Scullion, Baldwin-Wallace, 25:20; 145. Megan Johnson, Wis.-La Crosse, 25:21; 146. Kaitlin O’Sullivan, Oneonta St., 25:21; 147. Erin Enderly, TCNJ, 25:22; 148. Hannah Landecker, North Park, 25:22; 149. Taylor Penrod, DePauw, 25:23; 150. Jackie Arendt, Wis.-La Crosse, 25:24.

151. Lauren Reich, DePauw, 25:24; 152. Kelly Russ, St. Thomas (Minn.), 25:25; 153. Joanna Murphy, Linfield, 25:25; 154. Emma Lo, Haverford, 25:25; 155. Kristen Paulson, Brockport St., 25:25; 156. Angela Kremer, Colorado Col., 25:25; 157. Karen Campbell, Carleton, 25:28; 158. Stephanie Herrick, TCNJ, 25:28; 159. Megan O’Leary, TCNJ, 25:28; 160. Maxine Markfield, Haverford, 25:28.

161. Liana Roberts, Puget Sound, 25:33; 162. Laura Roach, Carleton, 25:34; 163. Jackie Burns, Wash. & Lee, 25:34; 164. Meaghan Lynch, Colorado Col., 25:34; 165. Christiana Martin, Geneseo St., 25:37; 166. Liz Ulrich, DePauw, 25:37; 167. Katie Moravec, Amherst, 25:37; 168. Besha Deane, Colorado Col., 25:37; 169. Julia Morton, Emory, 25:38; 170. Melanie McCormick, Ithaca, 25:39.

171. Jackie Kessler, Ohio Northern, 25:39; 172. Tamara Torlakson, UC Santa Cruz, 25:40; 173. Cathy Betterman, Luther, 25:42; 174. Katie Rizzolo, Tufts, 25:42; 175. Kristen Carter, Grove City, 25:42; 176. Jackie Kropp, Chicago, 25:43; 177. Megan Shaughnessy, Emory, 25:43; 178. Colleen Davis, Washington-St. Louis, 25:44; 179. Allison Rahtes, Elizabethtown, 25:44; 180. Eva Luderowski, Carleton, 25:45.

181. Eva Weyers, Allegheny, 25:45; 182. Meghan Mayer, St. Thomas (Minn.), 25:46; 183. Cassandra Haak, Wis.-Eau Claire, 25:46; 184. Mary Hamilton, Dickinson, 25:46; 185. Glenna Sullivan, Salisbury, 25:46; 186. Mia Symoniak, Allegheny, 25:47; 187. Irene Koplinka-Loehr, Carleton, 25:47; 188. Britta Kumley, Case Reserve, 25:49; 189. Annie Sullivan, Middlebury, 25:49; 190. Jenna Prendergast, TCNJ, 25:49.

191. Emily Lewandowski, Wis.-La Crosse, 25:50; 192. Carolyn Roberts, Cabrini, 25:50; 193. Kasey Currier, Ithaca, 25:50; 194. Katrina Brett, Willamette, 25:53; 195. Megan Brousseau, Wheaton (Mass.), 25:54; 196. Erin Sindewald, Grinnell, 25:54; 197. Ali Maki, Willamette, 25:55; 198. Laurel Johnson, Neb. Wesleyan, 25:56; 199. Rita Marcotte, Keene St., 25:57; 200. Megan Zaranek, Colorado Col., 25:58.

201. Melissa Francis, Hamline, 25:58; 202. Kelly Edwards, Calvin, 25:58; 203. Rachael Young, North Central (Ill.), 26:02; 204. Meg Harnett, Roanoke, 26:05; 205. Julie McNamara, Williams, 26:05; 206. Tiffany Kulp, Elizabethtown, 26:06; 207. Eileen Schilling, Centre, 26:06; 208. Emily Loeffler, Trinity (Tex.), 26:07; 209. Catie Coleman, Ohio Wesleyan, 26:09; 210. Darian Lunne, Haverford, 26:09.

211. Sara Raiser, Emory, 26:10; 212. Ann Tripp, Mary Washington, 26:11; 213. Anastasia Kasianchuk, Ithaca, 26:11; 214. Carley Latus, Allegheny, 26:12; 215. Jen Bach, North Central (Ill.), 26:12; 216. Lauren Von Eckartsber, Case Reserve, 26:13; 217. Joanna Clagnaz, Luther, 26:13; 218. Amber Hertz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 26:14; 219. Rachel Venezia, Chicago, 26:14; 220. Laura Broederdorf, Hendrix, 26:14.

221. Lisa Sudmeier, Washington-St. Louis, 26:15; 222. Mikayla Rhone, Neb. Wesleyan, 26:17; 223. Jocelyn Jenks, Colorado Col., 26:17; 224. D’ann Arthur, Trinity (Tex.), 26:18; 225. Allison Hazlett, Mary Washington, 26:20; 226. Britney Bezjian, Plattsburgh St., 26:21; 227. Martine McGrath, TCNJ, 26:21; 228. Sophie Holly, Keene St., 26:22; 229. Taryn Hand, Geneseo St., 26:24; 230. Meredith Groves, Grinnell, 26:24.

231. Lael Wilcox, Puget Sound, 26:24; 232. Bridget Bocher, Wis.-Eau Claire, 26:24; 233. Lena Edelstein, Haverford, 26:25; 234. Jena Winger, Willamette, 26:25; 235. Abby Laymon, DePauw, 26:25; 236. Lauren Boardman, Ithaca, 26:26; 237. Sarah Gill, Case Reserve, 26:27; 238. Jennifer Burn, Trinity (Tex.), 26:27; 239. Ali Garel, Puget Sound, 26:27; 240. Amanda Boccio, Ithaca, 26:29.

241. Lisa Savre, Luther, 26:31; 242. Laura Holtrop, Calvin, 26:36; 243. Kalsey Larson, St. Thomas (Minn.), 26:37; 244. Tara Fagan, Elizabethtown, 26:38; 245. Kat Telfeyan, Wash. & Lee, 26:39; 246. Jena Gerten, Wis.-La Crosse, 26:39; 247. Jennifer Schaffhouser, Plattsburgh St., 26:42; 248. Christy Adduci, North Central (Ill.), 26:43; 249. Sarah Miller, Keene St., 26:47; 250. Karen Miller, Ohio Northern, 26:50.

251. Sarah Crispin, Tufts, 26:52; 252. Samantha Jones, Elizabethtown, 26:54; 253. Regina Bresson, Ohio Northern, 26:56; 254. Leah Seigel, DePauw, 26:57; 255. Alison Case, DePauw, 26:59; 256. Ashley Sabin, Neb. Wesleyan, 27:00; 257. Erin Deihl, Elizabethtown, 27:02; 258. Liz So, Chicago, 27:07; 259. Mara Goodman, Chicago, 27:07; 260. Alyssa Luvison, Allegheny, 27:10.

261. Edith Polanco, Willamette, 27:14; 262. Ashley Poland, Colorado Col., 27:15; 263. Emma Miller, St. Thomas (Minn.), 27:19; 264. Annie Ginty, Allegheny, 27:20; 265. Stephanie Hankins, Trinity (Tex.), 27:25; 266. Liz Pearson, North Central (Ill.), 27:27; 267. Danielle Stollak, Haverford, 27:30; 268. Amanda Daws, Elizabethtown, 27:33; 269. Susanna Pierce, Trinity (Tex.), 27:37; 270. Rebecca Flink, Emory, 27:41.

271. Emma Kelsey, Puget Sound, 27:43; 272. Alison Hoing, Trinity (Tex.), 27:52; 273. Jennifer Taft, Plattsburgh St., 27:57; 274. Jill Hansen, Neb. Wesleyan, 27:58; 275. Dana Pitzulo, Ohio Northern, 28:06; 276. Kathleen McGinnis, Puget Sound, 28:12; 277. Lauren Crook, Ohio Northern, 28:21; 278. Nicole Howard, Plattsburgh St., 29:11; 279. Caprice Johnson, Plattsburgh St., 29:18.