Four Top-25 Finishes Power Bennies to Fourth Place at Autumn Classic

Seven register personal-best times

10/17/2026

COLD SPRING, Minn. - A strong showing at the 2026 Bennie Johnnie Autumn Classic resulted in a fourth-place effort by the College of Saint Benedict cross country team. The Bennies had four finish within the top-25, while seven recorded a personal-best time in the six-kilometer race at River Oaks Golf Club.

First-year Sophia Wolf (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) led the team with a 19th-place finish after crossing the finish line with a personal-best time of 23:38.4. Senior Abby Bufkin (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) followed with a time of 23:48.3, good for 21st. Junior Mollie Ping (Winona, Minn./Winona) recorded the third-best time by a Bennie, as she clocked in at 23:56.6 to finish 24th. Senior Bailey Link (Brush, Colo./Bursh) rounded out the top-25, closely following Ping with a career-best time of 23:57.5 to take 25th.

University of Minnesota claimed the crown after securing six of the top-seven slots. UM's Audrey Ward logged the win behind a time of 22:15.9. St. Olaf College was second, followed by Gustavus Adolphus College in third.

Saint Ben's turns its attention to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championships Saturday, Oct. 31. The 6k race is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the St. Olaf Cross Country Course.

Individual Results
*indicates personal-best time
19. Sophia Wolf, 23:38.4*
21. Abby Bufkin, 23:48.3
24. Mollie Ping, 23:56.6
25. Bailey Link, 23:57.5*
26. Anabella Witschen, 23:59.2
33. Daphne Grobstein, 24:14.0
36. Julia Babineau, 24:25.1
40. Addy Giles, 24:35.1*
53. Jaclyn Jurek, 25:01.6*
66. Brynn Heinsohn, 25:30.6
71. Mariah Brooks, 25:42.7
75. Madison Petersen, 26:13.1*
77. Erin O'Connor, 26:27.7
78. Lauren Masica, 26:32.7
83. Annika Johnson, 26:37.5
87. Signe Linne, 26:57.2*
92. Morgan Weyrens, 27:15.7
94. Alyse Williamschen, 27:23.2
98. Addy Stommes, 27:32.7*
108. Michelle Chicas Melendez, 27:57.8
121. Julianne Thomas, 29:24.7

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