Westminster Takes SLIAC Women's Cross Country Championship

Saturday morning the Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crowned their 2013 Women's Cross Country Champion, Westminster College. In addition Principia's Sarah Litwiller took home the individual championship.

Wesminster claimed their program's first ever Women's Cross Country championship with 47 points in the event. The Blue Jays placed four runners in the top 10 with their five timed runners averaging 23:39. Sarah Koestner paced Westminster with a time of 22:51 and finished 4th overall. Sarah Ogar finished 6th with a time of 23:31 while Brier Skogsberg and Lilly Willis took 9th and 10th just three seconds apart.

After finishing in third place at last year's championship Principia College's Sarah Litwiller took home the individual title this year. Litwiller led from the start and finished the 6K race in a time of 22 minutes flat, besting last year's top time on the same course by 41 seconds. This marks the third consecutive year Principia has taken home the top individual honors, joining former teammate Casey Powell.

Fontbonne University's Alyssa Tonner finished second with a time of 22:25 while Webster University's Heather Heisse took third with a time of 22:36. Greenville College placed second as a team while last year's team champion Principia took third place.

Litwiller was named Runner of the Year by virtue of capturing the SLIAC Individual title while Westminster's Jim Marshall was named Coach of the Year. Greenville's Alivia Powers was named Newcomer of the Year after placing 7th with a time of 23:35. Principia College was awarded the 2013 Sportsmanship award as well.

The 2013 SLIAC All-Conference First Team consisted of the top seven runners at the meet and include Sarah Litwiller (Principia), Alyssa Tonner (Fontbonne), Heather Heisse (Webster), Sarah Koestner (Westminster), Emily Osborne (Principia), Sarah Ogar (Westminster) and Alivia Powers (Greenville). The Second Team consisted of the next seven finishers and were: Molly Works (Greenville), Brier Skogsberg (Westminster), Lily Willis (Westminster), Olivia Beggs (Fontbonne), Casey Richardson (Spalding), Julie Greenough (Webster) and Kristen Roles (Fontbonne).

For video of today's race and interviews click HERE
For complete results of the 2013 SLIAC Women's Cross Country Championship click HERE