Sept. 17, 2005

Kenosha, Wis. - The Wayne State University women's cross country team placed fifth out of 20 schools at the 2005 Midwest Collegiate hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Sept. 17.

Northwestern won the team title with 64 points and was followed by Northern Michigan (75 points), Calvin College (96 points), Wisconsin-Oshkosh (120 points) and Wayne State (122 points). Trailing the Warriors were Wisconsin (154 points), North Central College and Wisconsin-Parkside (187 points each) and Michigan Tech (211 points). Of the teams placing 10th through 20th, there were two Division I schools (UW-Green Bay and Chicago State).

Freshman Rachelle Malette (Windsor, Ont./Holy Names) continued her strong performances placing fifth in a time of 18:47. Junior Jenni Culbertson (Clinton Twp., Mich./Dakota) was sixth at 18:52.

Also contributing to the team score were senior Melissa Moncion (Washington, Mich./Romeo), who was 29th overall (27th in team scoring) in a time of 19:29. Freshman Laura Friedman (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem) was 36th overall and 33rd in team scoring in a time of 19:37, while junior Leah Steinke (Windsor, Ont./Kennedy C.I.) completed the 5000m course in a time of 19:57 to place 59th overall (51st in team scoring).

Also competing were sophomore Kara Kessler (Ionia, Mich.), who placed 92nd (20:32), junior Sarah Kearfott (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson), who placed 99th (20:35), junior Faith Kejbou (Warren, Mich./Fitzgerald), who placed 119th (21:04), and freshman Teresa Sabin (Lowell, Mich./Saranac), who placed 134th (21:30).

The Warriors run a 6k on Sept. 24 in the seventh annual "Cross Country Only" National Championship hosted by Saint Louis University.

The name of the event comes from the fact that the participating schools sponsor a cross country program without the support of a track and field program.