October 6, 2007

Greensboro, NC- Salem College participated in the Hagan Stone Cross-Country Invitational Saturday morning.

With 18 full teams and 136 harriers lined up as the gun went off, the Spirits sped off, representing Salem College in their last regular season meet of 2007.

Rachel Fichthorn (Jr., Nokesville, VA) finished as the 12th overall college woman while setting a new school record in the 5000 meters with a time of 20:02. Julie Piernikowski (FY, Potomac, MD) ran a collegiate best of 22:35 while placing 50th.

Lauren Meek (So., Draper, VA) ran a seasonal best of 23:10 to place 60th. Ariel Barker (So., Monroe, NC) placed 107th in a season-best time of 26:22 while Anna Nieboer (FY, St. Cloud, FL) ran an all-time personal best of 28:52 to place 115th. As a team, Salem finished 9th out of 15 teams in the Division II, III and NAIA race. Out of Division III teams, Salem placed 3rd out of six.

"I'm very pleased with our performance today at Hagan Stone," said Coach Widner. "Every runner stepped up and ran a seasonal, collegiate, or personal best today. We really needed that, being our last regular season meet and being without Daphne Nichols (Jr, Machiasport, ME), who is the #2 North Carolina X-C lady Harrier. Everybody ran great today, and I'm proud of each and every one of our ladies that represent Salem College week in and week out. We look forward to possibly running in the Association of Division III Independents Cross-Country Championships later this month."