The College of Saint Benedict cross country team experienced a strong season with a team filled with veterans and newcomers alike under head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue.  Leadership stemming from veterans to first-years helped the Blazers garner a sixth place finish at the MIAC Championships and a ninth place showing at the NCAA Central Regionals.

The Blazers began their season on a high note at the UMD Invitational in which they placed second.  First-year Kaycee Knutson led the way for Blazers, taking fourth overall.  Close behind was sophomore Katy Torchia, who finished ninth, and senior Maggie Donahue, first-year Kelly Donahue and sophomore Ashley Irons rounded out the top five for CSB.

Saint Benedict continued their early success with another second place showing at their home invitational. Knutson and Torchia led the way again for the Blazers, while junior Alyx Chapman, Maggie Donahue and senior Sam VanWechel also contributed to the effort.

Next up was the Roy Griak Invitational, which featured some of the best teams in the nation.  CSB turned in an impressive 12th place showing, sparked by the Blazers’ top finisher Chapman, who took 29th overall.  Knutson and Torchia displayed strong efforts which helped catapult Saint Benedict ahead of Emory, who was ranked 19th nationally at the time of the race.

The Blazers enjoyed another solid effort at the St. Catherine triangular and finished two points behind winner Hamline for a second place finish.  Knutson placed first for the team and second overall.

Knutson continued her fantastic season with an amazing performance at the Tori Neubauer Invitational in La Crosse, WI.  Amidst a field of 444 runners, Knutson placed 19th overall and first for the team with a time of 22:32.  That performance earned her the second best 6K time in CSB history.  Maggie Donahue also had an impressive performance as she finished 68th overall and second for the Blazers.

CSB was prepared for a strong showing at the MIAC Championships, and they put forth a solid effort as they took sixth.  Knutson and Chapman paved the way for the Blazers with 10th and 27th places, respectively, and VanWechel, Torchia and Maggie Donahue followed suit by scoring for the team.

The Blazers finished the 2008 season by taking ninth at the NCAA Central Regionals.  Knutson was the top finisher for CSB, placed 24th overall in 23:20.6 which earned her All-Regional honors.  Chapman finished 36th overall in 23:43.7, and was followed by VanWechel, Maggie Donahue, Torchia, Kelly Donahue and Irons.