1988 Season Review

The 1988 season marked Saint Benedict's fifth year of competition in the sport of Cross Country.  It is, as the name implies, an activity of incredible demand.  Five kilometers often times on challenging, hilly, and wooded terrain and the race becomes more of a mastery of the course rather that one against another.  Success rests on seven runners and their ability to race as a team.

The end of summer training (350 miles worth), a trip to Pigeon Lake, and the first meet of the season only four days after the beginning of classes, accelerate the cross country team into the most successful season in the school's history.  A strong second place team finish at the SJU/CSB Invitational was followed a week later by an impressive ninth place showing at the Luther Invitational against five of the nation's top cross country powers.  Determined, the team stormed into October led by sophomore Robin Balder from Foley, MN, and Renee Miller, a sophomore from Crookston,MN, the Blazers finished eighth at the 18 team St. Olaf Invitational, sixth at the Carleton Invite and capped the regular season with an astounding 13th place finish at the La Crosse Invitational.  Again, many of the nation's best NCAA Division II and III teams were in attendance.

In the MIAC Championships, the Blazers were once again led by the duo of Miller and Balder-finishing 17th and 20th respectively- becoming the first Blazers ever to finish in the top 20 at the conference meet.

However, at the final meet of the season, the NCAA Central Region meet in Wartburg, Iowa, it was sophomore carol Kuttes from International Fall, MN, who ran a lifetime best in 2 inches of snow and helped push the Blazers to an eighth place finish in the toughest 20 team region in the nation.