COLFAX, Wis. – Led by junior Mary Kenney and senior Lucy Lyngen, the College of Saint Benedict cross country team placed eighth at the Blugold Invite which was held on Friday (Oct. 4) at the Whitetail Golf Course and hosted by UW-Eau Claire.

In a field of 13 teams and 193 competitors, CSB finished with 201 points to finish eighth. UW-Eau Claire captured the team title with 58 points with No. 14 UW-LaCrosse, second with 82 and Lawrence and UW-Stout, tied for third with 96. Lila Branchow of Minnesota led the field with a clocking of 22:01.08 followed by Cristyn Oliver of Lawrence finishing in 22:18.4 and Keeley Behr of UW-Eau Claire at 22:28.3.

Kenney continued her solid performance during the opening competitions of the 2024 cross country season by placing 35^th with a season-best 23:41.5 across 6K. Lyngen also had a season best in finishing 39^th in 23:46.0. She was followed by first-year Eileen O'Connor, who was 46^th with a 6K personal-best of 23:49.4.

Senior Kalli Smith clocked 24:26.5 to place 68^th and sophomore Abby Bufkin had a personal-best of 24:32.7 by placing 71^st. Also, in the top 100 for CSB was junior Eva Creighton, 77^th, 24:45.9; sophomore Julia Babineau, 86^th, 25:00.4 and first-year Mollie Ping, 90^th, 25:06.9.

The CSB cross country team will compete on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the Waxlax Invitational at the Wapicada Golf Course in Sauk Rapids, Minn.