November 15, 2008

Seguin, TX- Three members of the Salem College Cross-Country Team traveled to Texas this weekend to participate in the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Cross-Country Championships. Rachel Fichthorn (SR, Nokesville, VA) led the Spirits with a 36th place finish out of 169 total competitors. Fichthorn just missed being named All-Region by just one place and less than one second. Fichthorn's time of 24:25 broke the old Salem College 6000 meter record by ten seconds.

Julie Piernikowski (SO, Potomac, MD) finished 104th in 26:35, bettering her previous personal best by one minute and fifteen seconds. Lauren Meek (JR, Draper, VA) placed 131st. Meek's time of 27:38 broke her previous personal best by 48 seconds. Trinity(TX) and Emory(GA) were the two team qualifiers for the NCAA Championships, and Taylor Stephens (Rhodes) was the overall winner.

"Despite facing 30 mph winds the entire race, the ladies ran their personal and seasonal best times," commented Coach Widner. "Rachel, Julie, and Lauren represented Salem College well as they were the first student-athletes to participate in a post-season NCAA event as a Spirit. Rachel ended her career with a record-breaking day today. The Spirits will miss her as a team leader and as the top North Carolina NCAA Division III runner for the past three years."

Here is the link to the full results:

http://www.tlu.edu/athletics/2008_ncaa_division_iii_southsoutheast_regional_cross_country_meet