ANN ARBOR, Mich. –– Northwestern cross country came in fifth at the Big Ten Women's Cross Country Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Friday morning. The fifth place finish is the highest the Wildcats have placed since 1986.
"I am really encouraged by the fact we were closer to winning the race (38 points) than finishing sixth (43 points)," said head coach Jill Miller. "Kalea had an incredible day and Rachel & Ari gave us everything they had out there. For this to be Anna and Ava's first Big Ten Championships, they ran extremely well. Now we'll work extend this momentum into the Regional meet to earn ourselves a bid to the NCAA Championships."
The Wildcats posted the following times at U of M Golf Course.
7. Rachel McCardell - 20:23.9
11. Kalea Bartolotto - 20:29.3
16. Ari Marks - 20:39.4
40. Anna Hightower - 21:12.9
43. Ava Earl - 21:14.6
60. Katherine Hessler - 21:33.1
79. Olivia Verbeke - 21:53.7
105. Hannah Hall - 22:17.7
107. Maddy Whitman - 22:22.7
126. Fiona Lenth - 22:55.5
128. Serena Frolli - 22:57.1
135. Elizabeth Bulat - 23:09.4
The Wildcats will race next at the NCAA Regional Championship in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 11.
"First, we need to focus on recovery from today's race but soon we will turn back to training and assessing the strengths of Iowa State, Minnesota, Illinois, and Bradley," Miller shared postrace. "We know all of those teams will be eyeing that second auto bid to the NCAA's so we need to remain focused on our process and preparing to fight for that spot. It was just a month ago that Illinois beat us on the NCAA Regional course, so we will take absolutely nothing for granted."
"I am really encouraged by the fact we were closer to winning the race (38 points) than finishing sixth (43 points)," said head coach Jill Miller. "Kalea had an incredible day and Rachel & Ari gave us everything they had out there. For this to be Anna and Ava's first Big Ten Championships, they ran extremely well. Now we'll work extend this momentum into the Regional meet to earn ourselves a bid to the NCAA Championships."
Led by All-Conference performers Rachel McCardell and Kalea Bartolotto, XC ran to its best @bigten Championships result since 1986.
— Northwestern Athletics (@NU_Sports) October 29, 2022
??????? https://t.co/1Cs5j11HVF#GoCats | @USTFCCCA pic.twitter.com/2oDFxUQeE4
The Wildcats posted the following times at U of M Golf Course.
7. Rachel McCardell - 20:23.9
11. Kalea Bartolotto - 20:29.3
16. Ari Marks - 20:39.4
40. Anna Hightower - 21:12.9
43. Ava Earl - 21:14.6
60. Katherine Hessler - 21:33.1
79. Olivia Verbeke - 21:53.7
105. Hannah Hall - 22:17.7
107. Maddy Whitman - 22:22.7
126. Fiona Lenth - 22:55.5
128. Serena Frolli - 22:57.1
135. Elizabeth Bulat - 23:09.4
The Wildcats will race next at the NCAA Regional Championship in Columbia, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 11.
"First, we need to focus on recovery from today's race but soon we will turn back to training and assessing the strengths of Iowa State, Minnesota, Illinois, and Bradley," Miller shared postrace. "We know all of those teams will be eyeing that second auto bid to the NCAA's so we need to remain focused on our process and preparing to fight for that spot. It was just a month ago that Illinois beat us on the NCAA Regional course, so we will take absolutely nothing for granted."