ST. PAUL, Minn. – Led by Daphne Grobstein and Mary Kenney, the College of Saint Benedict cross country team raced to an eighth-place finish at the MIAC Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Bennies tallied 202 points behind standout performances Grobstein and Kenney, both of whom finished among the top 36 runners in a deep field of 167 competitors.
 

Grobstein of Golden Valley, Minn., continued her impressive debut season by earning MIAC Honorable Mention honors. She crossed the line in 23:09.8 to place 23rd overall, just shy of her personal best of 23:04.1—already one of the top 20 times in program history. Kenney, competing in her final MIAC Championship, clocked 23:34.7 to take 36th place, adding veteran leadership to the team's solid showing.

The day belonged to Carleton College, which claimed its 14th conference title by placing six runners in the top 15 and scoring a dominant 30 points. St. Olaf (80 points) and Gustavus (116) rounded out the top three. Macalester (120), Concordia (129), St. Scholastica (139), Bethel (167), and Saint Benedict (202) followed, with Saint Mary's (255), Hamline (289), and St. Catherine (302) completing the standings.

Carleton's freshman Claire Vukovics won the individual title in 21:21.4, two seconds ahead of senior teammate Hannah Preisser. Vukovics became the first rookie champion since St. Olaf's Noelle Olson in 2013.

Beyond the team's top duo, Mollie Ping (sophomore, Winona, Minn.) placed 49th in 23:59.3, while Natalie Zielsdorf (senior, Arden Hills, Minn.) ran a personal best of 24:15.2 for 62nd place. The Bennies packed several more runners in the top 80: Julia Babineau (65th, 24:20.1), Rachel Olinger (66th, 24:23.3), Anabella Witschen (69th, 24:29.7), Abby Bufkin (75th, 24:47.5), and first-year Addy Giles (77th, 24:50.9 – personal best).

Saint Benedict will look to build on its MIAC performance next week when it hosts the CSB Fall Finale on Friday, Nov. 7, in Collegeville, before heading to Colfax, Wis., for the NCAA Division III North Region Championship on Nov. 15.