The 2010 College of Saint Benedict Blazer cross country team featured a veteran squad that strived to make an impact in the MIAC and the Central region.  CSB did just that under 13-year head coach Robin Balder Lanoue, as they moved up one spot in the conference with a sixth place finish at the MIAC Championships and a solid ninth-place showing at the NCAA Central Regional.

The Blazers began the 2010 campaign with two victories at the CSB/SCU Dual 5K and the SJU Invitational 6K.  Senior Katie Schwarz (Mahtomedi, MN, Mahtomedi), junior Kaycee Knutson (Esko, MN, Esko) and sophomore Megan Smith (Lakeville, MN, Lakeville North) ran strongly at both meets, paving the way for tremendous individual seasons.

Saint Benedict then traveled to Colorado to compete in the Colorado College Invite in which they took home a fourth place finish.  Schwarz and Knutson led the way with top 10 overall finishes, notching 7th and 9th place, respectively.  The Blazers then collided with regional competition at the Blugold Invite and walked away with sixth place, much in part to top-50 finishes by Schwarz, Knutson, Smith and seniors Katy Torchia (Rochester, MN, Lourdes) and Molly Noel (Eagan, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall).

Fierce competition awaited CSB at the Dan Huston Invite in Waverly, Iowa, and with impressive races by Torchia and Noel, who placed second and fourth for the team, respectively, the Blazers finished ninth.  In their final tune-up before the conference championships, CSB placed second at the Carleton 6K with four top-10 finishes in Knutson, Schwarz, Smith and first-year Kelsie Larson (Decorah, IA, Decorah).

After taking seventh place in 2009, the Blazers improved their status in the MIAC by placing sixth at the conference championships.  Saint Benedict was led by Knutson (23:36), Smith (23:51), Schwarz (23:52) and Torchia (23:56).  The last three finishers for CSB were senior Caitlin Schnettler (Richmond, MN, ROCORI), Larson and sophomore Nicola Franta (La Crescent, MN, La Crescent).  Knutson, Smith and Schwarz all earned MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for their 16th, 23rd and 24th place finishes, respectively.

CSB’s final race of the season at the NCAA Central Regional saw them improve from a 12th place finish a year prior to ninth.  Knutson placed first for the team and 45th overall with a time of 23:31, and was followed by Schwarz, Torchia, Smith, Larson, Schnettler, and Franta.