Webster Women Looking to Defend Title

The Webster University women's cross country team will be looking to defend their SLIAC title this weekend in Louisville, Ky. The Gorloks have won each of the last two SLIAC Championships and have won three overall in program history. The Gorloks rolled to last year's championship by 30 points, the largest margin of victory at the championship in over a decade. Webster had three runners in the top six last year and bring back two of those runners; Meredith Sowers and Kalleigh Linthicum. Sowers placed 3rd last year and has been improving her times in each subsequent race this fall including a season-low time of 24:19 on October 19. Linthicum meanwhile has put together a stellar fall, leading the Gorloks in all four races and capturing four SLIAC Player of the Week awards. Linthicum has twice run under 24-minutes this fall. 

Greenville University has finished no lower than 2nd place at every championship since the 2013 meet. The Panthers are a consistent team with six runners recording times between 25 and 27-minute marks. Hannah Williams posted a team low time of 24:54 at the Brissman Lundeen Invitational while Kori Nesbit led the Panthers in their last race with a time of 25:12 at the Bradley Classic.

Spalding University placed 3rd at the championships last fall but will be racing on their home course this weekend. The Golden Eagles have a strong duo in Victoria Shedron and Kelsey Phillips. Shedron has been the team's top finisher in all four races this fall with a best time of 23:42. Phillips, last year's SLIAC runner-up, meanwhile is a three-time All-Conference runner and has a low of 24:48 this fall.

Principia College will be paced by sophomore Emme Schaefer. Schaefer took 5th last year and has led the Panthers in each race this fall. She posted a season low time of 24:24 on October 12 at the Illinois College Invitational. Afton Leslie and Lindsey Huffman will look to gather points for the Panthers.

Fontbonne University will count on the trio of Taylor Aurand, Desiree Brooks, and Patience Vandermierden. The trio has rotated top team finishes this fall with Vandermierden coming off a top finish in their last race. Aurand has a team-low finish of 30:15 this fall while both Brooks and Vandermierden have both recorded times under 31-minutes.

Sierra Howardson returns to lead the Tigers of Iowa Wesleyan University. Howardson, a sophomore, led the Tigers in all five races this year and is coming off last year's 7th place finish. Howardson has competed in three 6K's as tune-ups this fall with a low time of 25:58. Allison Morris will look to help push Howardson.

MacMurray College will be aiming for its highest finish at the championships since reinstating the program. The Highlanders are well tested, having competed in six races this fall including three straight 6K distances. Christianna Bush has led the team in every race and recorded a season low time of 27:32, dropping her race time in three straight meets. 

Blackburn College will send Kathryn Chase to the championships. Chase, a sophomore, ran her only 6K distance in her last race; the Illinois College Invitational on October 12. She finished that race with a time of 27:43 and will be looking to improve on last year's 28th place finish at the SLIAC Championships.

Westminster College no longer has three-time defending individual champion Jessica Kuykendall but Charlotte Blair returns for her senior season. Blair is coming off a 6K time of 27:24 at the Principia Cowbell Challenge and has led the Blue Jays in four races this fall. 

The 2019 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Championship will be held at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. The 6K race is set for a 10:45 a.m. (EST) start. COURSE MAP

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