For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Sam Rivard (Sophomore, Oak Grove, Minn. / St. Francis HS)
Minnesota Duluth

Sophomore Samantha Rivard took individual honors (for the third time in 2014), crossing the finish line with a 6K time of 21:10 at the SCSU Bob Waxlax Invitational ran in Sauk Rapids, Minn. No. 3 UMD came within one runner of registering a perfect team score en route to claiming the championship.  This marks the fourth time this season Rivard has been named NSIC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

NSIC / US Bank Cross Country Championship
NSIC Cross Country teams will compete in various meets throughout the fall with the season culminating in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday, November 8 at the NSIC / US Bank Cross Country Championships.  The NCAA Regional will take place two weeks later on Saturday, November 22 again in Wayne, Neb. The NCAA DII National Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, December 6 at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky. in conjunction  with the NCAA Fall Sports Festival.

NSIC Team Notes
Augustana
The No.7 Vikings were idle last week.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Bemidji State
Emily Turner (Jr., Windom, Minn.)
- Led the Bemidji State cross country team to fifth place at the Mike Thorson Invitational Oct. 24
- Her time of 23:42.65 was good for 15th individually on 5K course at Riverwood Golf Course; Bismarck, N.D.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb. .

Concordia-St. Paul
Erin Spatenka  finished in 13th Place with a time of 23:51.0 at  SCSU Bob Waxlax Invitational.  She ran the 2nd fastest time in school history at the St. Cloud State Course.  She became the 9th runner in school history to run two sub-24 minute 6Ks.  She improved by 106.1 seconds from her 25:37.1 at the same course last year.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

University of Mary
25th-ranked University of Mary won the Mike Thorson Invitational, posting 38 points to edge MSUM with 44
- This was the first meet hosted by U-Mary since 2010
- Freshman Alexis Zeis led the Marauders efforts for the fourth straight event. The Bismarck, N.D., native finished fourth overall in a time of 22:03.28.
- Two other Marauders finished in the top eight
- Freshman Adilene Benitez finished seventh overall and junior Erin Leier was eighth
- The Marauders re-entered the USTFCCCA national rankings at #25 last week
- U-Mary next competes at the NSIC championships on Nov. 8
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Minnesota Duluth
No. 3 UMD came within one runner of registering a perfect team score en route to claiming the championship at the 6K Bob Waxlax Invitational Friday afternoon in Sauk Rapids, Minn. Sophomore Samantha Rivard took individual honors (for the third time in 2014), crossing the finish line with a 6K time of 21:10. The next three placers were also Bulldogs -- freshman Emi Trost (21:25), sophomore Breanna Colbenson (22:06), senior Alexandra Rudin (22:17) -- while freshman Amber Seidenkranz was sixth (22:52).
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Minnesota State
The Minnesota State women’s cross country team placed second at the SCSU Bob Waxlax Invitational held in Sauk Rapids, Minn., Friday afternoon. Senior Marina Paul checked in at 22:46 and her fifth-place finish was the top individual performance by a Maverick.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

MSU Moorhead
Molly Montonye (Jr., Graceville, Minn./Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley HS)
--Was the top finishing Division II athlete at the Mike Thorson Invitational
--finished with a time of 21:47.13 and recorded fourth top five finish of the season.
--topped Northern State standout Sasha Hovind by eight seconds for second.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Minot State
Minot State took fourth place at the 2014 University of Mary Mike Thorson Invite Saturday in Bismarck, N.D. The Beavers finished behind NSIC foes U-Mary, Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Northern State, but topped Bemidji State. MSU finished with 35 places behind NSU and 16 in front of BSU. Catie LeDesma (5-6, So., Chula Vista, Calif. / Otay Ranch) continued her solid season as she finished sixth overall with a time of 22 minutes, 22.78 seconds. Allison Windish (5-5, Jr., Wimbledon, N.D. / Barnes County North) was second on the Beavers’ team with a 23:36.98. Erica Clark (5-8, Jr., Gardena, Calif. / Gardena / West Los Angeles JC) had her best team place, finishing third for MSU and 26 th overall (25:13.25).
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Northern State
Sasha Hovind earned her third runner-up finish of the season Friday at the U-Mary Mike Thorson Invite in Bismarck, N.D. Hovind ran a 5K time of 21:55.76.  Hovind has now placed second at the Augustana Twilight, the Roy Griak Invitational and the Thorson Invite this season.  Dakotah Bullen grabbed another top-10 finish for the Wolves as she placed 10th with a time of 22:59.01.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Sioux Falls
Sophomore Rachel Huffman was the top placer for the USF women’s team at the Mount Marty Invite as she clocked a 19:42.52 for 27th.  USF senior Rebecca Steadman was 32th in 19:45.18.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Southwest Minnesota State
Savannah Ramirez led the Mustangs with a 12th place finish as SMSU finished fourth out of five teams at the St. Cloud State Bob Waxlax Invite ran at Wapicada Golf Course in Sauk Rapids, Minn. Ramirez recorded a time of 23:38 to pace the Mustangs, while Paige Yi earned a 17th place finish with a time of 24:08.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

St. Cloud State
The St. Cloud State University women’s cross country squad claimed third place at the 2014 Bob Waxlax Invitational on Friday, Oct. 24 at the Wapicada G.C. in nearby Sauk Rapids, Minn.  The Huskies posted 99 points in the 6K race, while Minnesota Duluth won the race with 16 points and Minnesota State University, Mankato was second with 53 points.  The race was named in honor of former SCSU track and field and cross country coach Bob Waxlax, who was on hand on Oct. 24 to serve as the race’s honorary starter.
- Individually, SCSU sophomore Samantha Sunstrom paced the Huskies with a seventh place time of 22:57 in the race that featured 45 runners.  Teammate Rachel Sakry placed 20th in the race with a time of 24:15 and Zia Matti placed 24th with a time of 24:47.  Jessie Hubley finished 32nd in the field with a time of 25:36.0 and Maria Hauer placed 34th at 25:56.  
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Upper Iowa
The Peacocks were idle last week.
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Wayne State
Skyler Lippman (Sr., Pierce, Neb.) was the top finisher for WSC at the Mount Marty Invitational on Saturday in Yankton, SD.  She placed  77th in a time of 20:41 on the 5,000 meter course to lead the Wildcats.  
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.

Winona State
The Warriors were idle last week.  
Up Next: Nov. 8th at the NSIC / US Bank Championships in Wayne, Neb.


Past NSIC Women’s CC Athletes of the Week
9/9/14: Sasha Hovind, Northern State
9/16/14: Molly Montonye, MSU Moorhead
9/23/14: Sam Rivard, Minnesota Duluth
9/30/14: Sam Rivard, Minnesota Duluth (2)
10/7/14: Sam Rivard, Minnesota Duluth (3)
10/14/14: Molly Montonye, MSU Moorhead (2)
10/21/14: Emi Trost, Minnesota Duluth
10/28/14: Sam Rivard, Minnesota Duluth (4)