Top-ranked Amherst’s fourth and fifth runners overcame the strong finish of Plattsburgh State’s first three runners to claim the Lord Jeffs’ first team title at the Division III Women’s Cross Country Championships November 17 at St. Olaf.

Amherst, which fell just one point short last year of winning the title, finished with 120 points — the fifth-highest winning score in women’s championships history. But the Lord Jeffs still beat Plattsburgh State by 39 points, thanks to the 53-point margin that Amherst’s fourth runner, Caitlin McDermott-Murphy, and fifth runner, Sophia Gallaher, built over their Cardinal counterparts.

Plattsburgh State, posting its best team finish at the championships, saw its first three runners cross the finish line ahead of Amherst’s leading trio. In fact, the Cardinals’ Allison Busby and Toni Wiszowaty both finished ahead of Amherst’s first scorer, Heather Wilson, and Plattsburgh State held a 14-point advantage before McDermott-Murphy and Gallaher worked their way to the finish.
The women were the 34th and 42nd scorers to cross the finish line, making Amherst the only team to place its runners among the top 50 scorers.

Washington U. in St. Louis claimed its third third-place finish in four years in the team competition. Calvin and Geneseo State rounded out the top five.

On a weekend that saw newly minted titlists not only in the women’s team competition but also in men’s team and individual competition, one familiar face did appear on the victory podium at the end of the championships.

Senior Sarah Zerzan of Willamette successfully defended her title in the women’s individual competition, She was the only woman to finish the blustery 6,000-meter course in less than 21 minutes, defeating Geneseo State’s Liz Montgomery by 23 seconds.

She became only the third multiple individual titlist in Division III women’s championships history, joining three-time winner Missy Buttry of Wartburg and double champion Tori Neubauer of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

“She just went out and ran hard until nobody else was with her, which is what she’s done for the last two years,” Willamette coach Matt McGuirk said. “At about the nine- or 10-minute mark she made her move. With about 1,500 meters to go, she had a 12-second lead and nearly doubled her lead the rest of the way to win by 23 seconds. She just ran hard and was the best runner today”
“I ran how I feel comfortable,” said Zerzan, who said she concentrated on controlling her breathing in the cold air.

“It works best for me to be in a race that is fast. That worked well for me.”

Team results
1. Amherst, 120; 2. Plattsburgh St., 159; 3. Washington-St. Louis, 194; 4. Calvin, 199; 5. Geneseo St., 249; 6. Case Reserve, 264; 7. DePauw, 275; 8. Wis.-Eau Claire, 285; 9. Willamette, 300; 10. Luther, 325; 11. Colby, 358; 12. Wis.-Platteville, 366; 13. Dickinson, 385; 14. Williams, 390; 15. Middlebury, 410; 16. Neb. Wesleyan, 427; 17. Emory, 447; 18. Wis.-La Crosse, 452; 19. Wartburg, 500; 20. Ithaca, 502; 21. Trinity (Tex.), 542; 22. TCNJ, 564; 23. (tie) Elizabethtown and Puget Sound, 581; 25. St. Thomas (Minn.), 593; 26. Haverford, 616; 27. Bowdoin, 618; 28. Kenyon, 626; 29. Johns Hopkins, 660; 30. St. Olaf, 690; 31. Colorado Col., 693; 32. Allegheny, 803.

Individual results
1. Sarah Zerzan, Willamette, 20:54; 2. Liz Montgomery, Geneseo St., 21:17; 3. Alexandra Krieg, Middlebury, 21:23; 4. Becca Jordahl, Wis.-River Falls, 21:27; 5. Janet Dobyns, Luther, 21:28; 6. Sarah Spencer, Grinnell, 21:29; 7. Caitlin Bradley, Dickinson, 21:32; 8. Allison Busby, Plattsburgh St., 21:32; 9. Jennifer Adams, Keene St., 21:36; 10. Toni Wiszowaty, Plattsburgh St., 21:37.

Team results
1. Amherst, 120; 2. Plattsburgh St., 159; 3. Washington-St. Louis, 194; 4. Calvin, 199; 5. Geneseo St., 249; 6. Case Reserve, 264; 7. DePauw, 275; 8. Wis.-Eau Claire, 285; 9. Willamette, 300; 10. Luther, 325; 11. Colby, 358; 12. Wis.-Platteville, 366; 13. Dickinson, 385; 14. Williams, 390; 15. Middlebury, 410; 16. Neb. Wesleyan, 427; 17. Emory, 447; 18. Wis.-La Crosse, 452; 19. Wartburg, 500; 20. Ithaca, 502; 21. Trinity (Tex.), 542; 22. TCNJ, 564; 23. (tie) Elizabethtown and Puget Sound, 581; 25. St. Thomas (Minn.), 593; 26. Haverford, 616; 27. Bowdoin, 618; 28. Kenyon, 626; 29. Johns Hopkins, 660; 30. St. Olaf, 690; 31. Colorado Col., 693; 32. Allegheny, 803.

Individual results
1. Sarah Zerzan, Willamette, 20:54; 2. Liz Montgomery, Geneseo St., 21:17; 3. Alexandra Krieg, Middlebury, 21:23; 4. Becca Jordahl, Wis.-River Falls, 21:27; 5. Janet Dobyns, Luther, 21:28; 6. Sarah Spencer, Grinnell, 21:29; 7. Caitlin Bradley, Dickinson, 21:32; 8. Allison Busby, Plattsburgh St., 21:32; 9. Jennifer Adams, Keene St., 21:36; 10. Toni Wiszowaty, Plattsburgh St., 21:37.

11. Maddie Coffman, Willamette, 21:43; 12. Heather Wilson, Amherst, 21:45; 13. Ayla Mitchell, Wis.-Oshkosh, 21:45; 14. Meghan Nolan, Geneseo St., 21:46; 15. Erin Fisher, Elizabethtown, 21:46; 16. Katy O’Brien, Tufts, 21:47; 17. Marie Borner, Bethel, 21:48; 18. Tricia Frisella, Washington-St. Louis, 21:49; 19. Amanda Phillips, Lewis & Clark, 21:51; 20. Katie Theisen, St. Thomas (Minn.), 21:52.

21. Catherine Beck, Tufts, 21:52; 22. Elise Tropiano, Amherst, 21:54; 23. Kate Pentak, Washington-St. Louis, 21:56; 24. Tyler Mulkin, Washington-St. Louis, 21:57; 25. Alyssa Recny, Plattsburgh St., 21:59; 26. Kristen Carter, Grove City, 22:00; 27. Esther Erb, Case Reserve, 22:02; 28. Annick Lamar, Haverford, 22:03; 29. Beth Lutz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 22:03; 30. Stephanie McNamara, Tufts, 22:04.

31. Lisa Baumert, Wheaton (Ill.), 22:06; 32. Allison Louthan, Grinnell, 22:08; 33. Gwen Kemple, Anderson (Ind.), 22:08; 34. Kelsey Owens, Pacific (Ore.), 22:09; 35. Nikki Umhoefer, Bethel, 22:11; 36. Kim Partee, Amherst, 22:12; 37. Christina Overbeck, Calvin, 22:19; 38. Megan Gray, St. Mary’s (Ind.), 22:21; 39. Laura Paulsen, Johns Hopkins, 22:23; 40. Cristy Falcone, Mary Washington, 22:24.

41. Kristen Bowhers, Case Reserve, 22:24; 42. Jessica Scott, Wis.-Platteville, 22:25; 43. Mary Palmer, Wis.-Eau Claire, 22:26; 44. Erin Kelley, Carroll (Wis.), 22:27; 45. Anna King, Colby, 22:28; 46. Cassandra Knight, Colby, 22:28; 47. Alicia Freese, Pomona-Pitzer, 22:29; 48. Lauren Brady, Kenyon, 22:29; 49. Jessica Koster, Calvin, 22:30; 50. Wendy Pavlus, St. Lawrence, 22:30.

51. D’Ann Arthur, Trinity (Tex.), 22:31; 52. Calah Schlabach, Calvin, 22:31; 53. Brittany Hodgson, Puget Sound, 22:31; 54. Caitlin McDermott-Murphy, Amherst, 22:33; 55. Katelyn Williams, Wis.-La Crosse, 22:33; 56. Emily Loeffler, Trinity (Tex.), 22:34; 57. Natalie Waryck, Emory, 22:35; 58. Olga Kondratjeva, Williams, 22:36; 59. Amber Brandenburger, Neb. Wesleyan, 22:36; 60. Molly Warner, Wis.-Eau Claire, 22:36.

61. Jenny Scherer, St. Norbert, 22:37; 62. Brittany Hubbard, Neb. Wesleyan, 22:39; 63. Angie Berry, Central (Iowa), 22:40; 64. Sophia Galleher, Amherst, 22:41; 65. Ashley Schnell, Coe, 22:41; 66. Rachel Wobeter, Luther, 22:41; 67. Elizabeth Ludovici, St. Lawrence, 22:42; 68. Marci Klimek, Linfield, 22:43; 69. Nicole Anderson, Amherst, 22:43; 70. Hannah Dieringer, Wis.-Stevens Point, 22:43.

71. Meg Ray, Amherst, 22:43; 72. Emma Dreis, Wis.-Platteville, 22:44; 73. Lauren Reich, DePauw, 22:45; 74. Taylor Penrod, DePauw, 22:45; 75. Laura Iafrati, Geneseo St., 22:46; 76. Hannah Humbach, Wis.-Eau Claire, 22:46; 77. Kenna Patrick, Puget Sound, 22:46; 78. Jennifer Kooser, Messiah, 22:47; 79. Tamma Carleton, Lewis & Clark, 22:47; 80. Britney Bezjian, Plattsburgh St., 22:48.

81. Evelyn Ross, Claremont-M-S, 22:50; 82. Alison Case, DePauw, 22:51; 83. Jesi Hale, Calvin, 22:51; 84. Justine Jeroski, Case Reserve, 22:51; 85. Ceara Danaher, Middlebury, 22:52; 86. Jessica Francois, Kenyon, 22:53; 87. Tiffany Kulp, Elizabethtown, 22:54; 88. Lauren Shores, Emory, 22:54; 89. Joanna Johnson, Oberlin, 22:54; 90. Alycia Woodruff, Susquehanna, 22:54.

91. Lindsey Nadolski, Ithaca, 22:54; 92. Lauren Bergstrom, Calvin, 22:55; 93. Laura Ardington, DePauw, 22:55; 94. Melissa Jones, Emory, 22:56; 95. Lissy Robie, Williams, 22:56; 96. Julie Theibert, DePauw, 22:56; 97. Lauren Philbrook, Williams, 22:56; 98. Liz Driscoll, Augustana (Ill.), 22:58; 99. Ericka Sell, Luther, 22:59; 100. Elizabeth Finn, MIT, 22:59.

101. Hope Rathnam, Washington-St. Louis, 23:00; 102. Alli Tank, Wis.-Platteville, 23:00; 103. Katherine Telfeyan, Wash. & Lee, 23:00; 104. Brooke Boening, Denison, 23:01; 105. Martine McGrath, TCNJ, 23:01; 106. Meghan Dugan, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:01; 107. Caitlin Strahota, Dickinson, 23:01; 108. Sandra Goettleman, Geneseo St., 23:01; 109. Amanda Kuiken, Wartburg, 23:02; 110. Jennifer Kuiken, Wartburg, 23:03.

111. Emily Vanoosbree, Wartburg, 23:03; 112. Jennifer Schaffhouser, Plattsburgh St., 23:04; 113. Kristen Howe, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:04; 114. Britta Kumley, Case Reserve, 23:05; 115. Lynn Marsh, Calvin, 23:05; 116. Jane Weber, Haverford, 23:05; 117. Flannery Cerbin, Luther, 23:05; 118. Molly Schlamb, Washington-St. Louis, 23:06; 119. Megan Zaranek, Colorado Col., 23:06; 120. Lucia Pier, Wesleyan (Conn.), 23:06.

121. Meredith Fitzpatrick, Hamilton, 23:07; 122. Elizabeth Smit, Calvin, 23:07; 123. Taryn Surtees, Washington-St. Louis, 23:08; 124. Bridget Baldwin, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:09; 125. Andrea Fischione, Case Reserve, 23:09; 126. Jena Winger, Willamette, 23:10; 127. Stephanie Herrick, TCNJ, 23:10; 128. Edith Polanco, Willamette, 23:10; 129. Julia Seward, Grove City, 23:12; 130. Jocelyn Jenks, Colorado Col., 23:12.

131. Julia Ruggiero, Brockport St., 23:13; 132. Mary Hamilton, Dickinson, 23:13; 133. Elizabeth Petit, Colby, 23:14; 134. Layla Naficy, Dickinson, 23:14; 135. Nicole Mauro, Bridgewater St., 23:14; 136. Jackie Spelts, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:14; 137. Caitlin Masse, Trinity (Tex.), 23:15; 138. Rachel Krasich, Rose-Hulman, 23:15; 139. Julie Anderson, St. Thomas (Minn.), 23:16; 140. Laura Onderko, Bowdoin, 23:16.

141. Emma Linhard, Colby, 23:16; 142. Mia Symoniak, Allegheny, 23:16; 143. Melanie McCormick, Ithaca, 23:16; 144. Kate Hirschboeck, Middlebury, 23:17; 145. Rachel Hogen, Johns Hopkins, 23:17; 146. Liz Gleason, Williams, 23:17; 147. Courtney Gallagher, Ithaca, 23:17; 148. Kasey Currier, Ithaca, 23:17; 149. Lindsey Vick, Wis.-Platteville, 23:18; 150. Amanda Ivey, Colby, 23:18.

151. Megan O’Leary, TCNJ, 23:18; 152. Jennie Pernisi, Lynchburg, 23:18; 153. Ashley Sharratt, Willamette, 23:18; 154. Maddie Weissman, Occidental, 23:18; 155. Emily Cochard, Hanover, 23:19; 156. Christina Argueta, Bowdoin, 23:19; 157. Megan Shaughnessy, Emory, 23:19; 158. Molly Lewis, Willamette, 23:20; 159. Emily Hurley, Geneseo St., 23:21; 160. Taryn Hand, Geneseo St., 23:21.

161. Moira Yoe, Williams, 23:22; 162. Eileen McGuine, Wis.-Platteville, 23:22; 163. Kellie Hasselwander, Rochester, 23:22; 164. Jennifer Carlson, St. Olaf, 23:23; 165. Anna Lovett, Dickinson, 23:25; 166. Lori Tlach, Wartburg, 23:25; 167. Lisa Sudmeier, Washington-St. Louis, 23:25; 168. Lisa Holt, Cortland St., 23:25; 169. Sophia Spring, Middlebury, 23:25; 170. Kelly Russ, St. Thomas (Minn.), 23:26.
171. Amy Wampler, Chris. Newport, 23:26; 172. Amanda Lee, Middlebury, 23:26; 173. Yasmine White, Bowdoin, 23:26; 174. Amanda Boccio, Ithaca, 23:27; 175. Megan Johnson, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:27; 176. Katie Dolan, Luther, 23:27; 177. Jessica Brown, Nazareth, 23:27; 178. Courtney Eustace, Bowdoin, 23:27; 179. Rachel Asher, Williams, 23:28; 180. Alys Cheatle, Catholic, 23:28.

181. Annie McKay, Luther, 23:28; 182. Elly Teitsworth, Williams, 23:29; 183. Casey Baustian, St. Olaf, 23:29; 184. Sara Best, TCNJ, 23:30; 185. Carly Killam, Willamette, 23:31; 186. Kristina Pfeiffer, Dickinson, 23:32; 187. Emma Kelsey, Puget Sound, 23:32; 188. Jennifer MacDowell, Colby, 23:32; 189. Jena Gerten, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:33; 190. Laura Straw, Dickinson, 23:33.

191. Megan Vandenhengel, Elizabethtown, 23:33; 192. Lena Edelstein, Haverford, 23:34; 193. Jacqueline Kelly, St. Olaf, 23:34; 194. Margaret Ho, St. Olaf, 23:34; 195. Niki Reese, Otterbein, 23:34; 196. Elise Bennett, Luther, 23:34; 197. Danielle Hunt, Geneseo St., 23:35; 198. Michaela McLaughlin, St. Olaf, 23:35; 199. Amber Hertz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 23:36; 200. Liana Roberts, Puget Sound, 23:36.

201. Courtney Martin, Bowdoin, 23:36; 202. Sarah Podmaniczky, Bowdoin, 23:37; 203. Rachel Hutchinson, Allegheny, 23:38; 204. Jessica Viner, Wartburg, 23:38; 205. Zoe Browne, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:39; 206. Sara Gearin, Muhlenberg, 23:39; 207. Chrissy Ostrowksi, Kenyon, 23:40; 208. Ann Tripp, Mary Washington, 23:41; 209. Amy Ahearn, Bowdoin, 23:41; 210. J.Fraley Coles, Goucher, 23:42.

211. Lauren Moss, Wis.-La Crosse, 23:42; 212. Christine Nystrom, TCNJ, 23:42; 213. Mary O’Grady, Johns Hopkins, 23:42; 214. Eva Weyers, Allegheny, 23:45; 215. Angela Tecco, TCNJ, 23:46; 216. Trista Baye, Wis.-Platteville, 23:47; 217. Amanda Godemann, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:47; 218. Kristen O’Brien, Elizabethtown, 23:48; 219. Joy Zhu, Case Reserve, 23:48; 220. Christy Sweaney, Colorado Col., 23:49.

221. Laurel Johnson, Neb. Wesleyan, 23:49; 222. Raynee DeGrio, St. Thomas (Minn.), 23:50; 223. Nicole Ullmeyer, TCNJ, 23:50; 224. Jaime Arentz, Wis.-Eau Claire, 23:50; 225. Sarah Norton, Middlebury, 23:50; 226. Jackie Kirby, Keystone, 23:52; 227. Alli Rowe, Colorado Col., 23:53; 228. Katie Stancik, Allegheny, 23:53; 229. Rebecca Willett, Emory, 23:54; 230. Katrina Gravel, Colby, 23:55.

231. Ashley Poland, Colorado Col., 23:55; 232. Emily Letts, Haverford, 23:55; 233. Leda McDaniel, Trinity (Tex.), 23:55; 234. Rebecca Flink, Emory, 23:55; 235. Rebecca Taylor, Wash. & Lee, 23:56; 236. Erin Lowrey, Macalester, 23:56; 237. Hannah Klinger, Wis.-Platteville, 23:56; 238. Mira Patel, Johns Hopkins, 23:57; 239. Lauren Metzger, Kenyon, 23:58; 240. Mercy Dinwiddie, Neb. Wesleyan, 24:01.

241. Nicole Calabrese, Wartburg, 24:01; 242. Bridget Blair, DePauw, 24:01; 243. Anne Knutson, St. Olaf, 24:03; 244. Meaghan Lynch, Colorado Col., 24:04; 245. Kalsey Larson, St. Thomas (Minn.), 24:06; 246. Laura Cook, St. Olaf, 24:06; 247. Megan Brower, Johns Hopkins, 24:06; 248. Allie Metzler, St. Thomas (Minn.), 24:07; 249. Sarah Gill, Case Reserve, 24:08; 250. Melissa Buckley, DePauw, 24:09.

251. Darian Lunne, Haverford, 24:09; 252. Kaitlyn Saldanha, Middlebury, 24:10; 253. Anne Iddins, St. Thomas (Minn.), 24:12; 254. Jenny Feinberg, Emory, 24:14; 255. Jennifer Burn, Trinity (Tex.), 24:14; 256. Alison Hoing, Trinity (Tex.), 24:15; 257. Tracey Hutchings-Goetz, Kenyon, 24:15; 258. Nicole Howard, Plattsburgh St., 24:16; 259. Alissa Kersey, Ithaca, 24:16; 260. Janna McClintock, Wartburg, 24:16.

261. Sarah Grove, Elizabethtown, 24:18; 262. Elizabeth Zoidis, Haverford, 24:23; 263. Caitlin Catella, Ithaca, 24:24; 264. Claudia Borlee, Wis.-Eau Claire, 24:32; 265. Ali Garel, Puget Sound, 24:33; 266. Kate Aitchison, Colorado Col., 24:39; 267. Emma Hiza, Johns Hopkins, 24:40; 268. Christina Valerio, Johns Hopkins, 24:42; 269. Jennifer Taft, Plattsburgh St., 24:46; 270. Melissa Shaw, Allegheny, 24:47.

271. Caitlin Tully, Haverford, 24:55; 272. Kara Pellegrino, Kenyon, 25:08; 273. Sarah Merusi, Elizabethtown, 25:10; 274. Emma Reidy, Kenyon, 25:11; 275. Meghan Schoenfelder, Puget Sound, 25:15; 276. Alyssa Luvison, Allegheny, 25:17; 277. Amanda Daws, Elizabethtown, 25:18; 278. Lindsay Pugh, Allegheny, 25:21; 279. Lauren Mouat, Puget Sound, 25:38; 280. Blair Condon, Trinity (Tex.), 25:51.