September 11, 2010
Lexington, VA- The Salem College cross country team finished in 5th place out of nine teams at the Washington and Lee Invitational today. The Spirits ran on a tough course in their first six kilometer (6K) race of the season. Julie Piernikowski (Potomac, MD) finished first for Salem and 24th overall in a time of 27:51. Salem defeated two NCAA Division III teams and two NAIA schools in the meet.
Natali Olveda (Litchfield Park, AZ) ran her first collegiate 6K in her personal record time. Olveda finished in 29th overall in a time of 28:54. Stephanie Mendez (Atlanta, GA) was the third Spirit to cross the line in 43rd (30:29).
The next four Spirits all broke their 6K personal record times. Bethany Eaton (State Road, NC) finished in 50th (30:59), and Joanna Mills (Cary, NC) was one spot and one second behind Eaton. Kristen McLaurin (Columbia, SC) and Akaya McElveen (New Haven, CT) also ran personal bests in the race.
The Spirits finished with 148 points, and an average time of 29:49. Washington and Lee was the overall winner of the race with 37 points. Salem returns to action on September 18th, when they travel to the Winthrop Invitational in South Carolina.