ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Eileen O'Connor and Mary Kenney registered top-10 finishes and top-25 marks all-time across 5,000-meters to lead the College of Saint Benedict cross country team to a second-place team finish with 61 points at the Toni St. Pierre Invite on Friday (Sept. 6) at Boulder Creek Golf Course.

Wisconsin-Stout, which had the top three finishers in the race, won the invitational with 26 points. Arely Jaime Luevano of Wisconsin-Stout captured the individual title in 18:31.7 while teammates Brekkyn Lammert was second in 18:33.7 with Claudia Lasiowski, third, in 18:44.3.

After Wisconsin-Stout and College of Saint Benedict, Bethel was third with 69 points and followed by DII St. Cloud State, fourth, 69 points; Wisconsin-Superior, fifth, 138 points; Northwestern (Minn.), sixth, 167; and DII Bemidji State, 7^th, 169 points.

CSB had four runners in the top 20, including O'Connor, a first year who clocked 19:15.0 in 5,000-meters, in her first race at Saint Benedict.  She edged Mary Kenney, a junior who had her career best of 19:15.4 as both runners tied Caitlin Goodman (2013) for 23^rd all-time in 5,000-meters in program history. O'Connor finished seventh while Kenney was eighth.

Senior Kalli Smith finished 11^th in 19:27.4, a career-best which ranks 39^th in program history. Junior Eva Creighton placed 16^th in 19:53.6 while another senior Lucy Lyngen was 19^th as she clocked a career-best 19:58.1.

"We had a lot of career-bests to start the season. The team competed well and really pushed each other," said CSB head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue.  "We are excited to see how we can move our packs up and run even stronger."

Overall, CSB had eight runners place in the top 35. Sophomore Anabella Witschen was 22^nd in a career-best 20:02.08. After her, sophomore Abby Bufkin was 24^th in a career-best 20:05.0 and followed by Mollie Ping 26^th in 20:06.3 while sophomore Julia Babineau was 32^nd in a career-best 20:16.5. Also in the top 50 was junior Ayva Burshem, 42^nd, 20:39.4, first-year Mariah Brooks, 45^th, 20:45.2 and senior Maranda Thier, 49^th, 20:51.9 while sophomore Taylor Radaich was 51^st, 20:59.0.

Next for CSB will be competing at the St. Olaf Invitational in Northfield, Minn., on Sept. 21.