Sept. 9, 2006

Northville, Mich. - The Wayne State University women's cross country team took first place in the 2006 Running Fit-Detroit Titan Cross Country Invitational held at Cass-Benton Park in Northville.

The Warriors had a team score or 30 points to finish ahead of Niagara (44), Detroit (72), Schoolcraft (94) and Jackson (122). Oakland, Madonna and Glen Oaks did not have enough runners for a team score.

Sophomore Rachelle Malette (Windsor, Ont./Holy Names) won the women's race in a time of 18:31 as WSU had three of the top five runners.

Also placing in the top five for team scoring for the Warriors were senior Leah Steinke (Windsor, Ont./Kennedy C.I.), who placed third (fourth overall) in a time of 19:17, and sophomore Danielle Malone (Canton, Mich./Salem), who placed fifth (seventh overall) in a time of 20:16.

Senior Sarah Kearfott (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) was 11th overall and ninth in team scoring in a time of 20:36. Sophomore Teresa Sabin (Lowell, Mich./Saranac) was 15th overall (12th in team scoring) with a time of 20:55.

Also running for Wayne State were junior Kara Kessler (Ionia, Mich.), who placed 19th overall in a time of 21:34, and freshman Vallorie Ebert (Macomb, Mich./Henry Ford II), who placed 23rd overall in a time of 21:57.

Quoting Coach Rick Cummins -- "The women ran well today. We got good efforts from Leah and Danielle in their first races of the year. Rachelle ran a smart race, I was very happy with that.

Wayne State's next meet is Saturday, September 16 at the Bowling Green State Mel Brodt Invitational.