The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Cross Country Team has won the United States Collegiate Athletic Associations (USCAA) National Cross Country Championship.  The Championship was held in Concord, NH.

Fourteen Woods women participate on the team, 12 of them are freshmen. Freshman, Mannie Bizuneh of Indianapolis, an art therapy major, finished first with a time of 23:26, setting a new course record at NHTI.

“There is absolutely nothing like having a first season at The Woods and then having the team finish their best race ever with the best time,” said Danelle Readinger, SMWC’s Cross Country Coach. “We had 8 personal best during this race.”

For the women, Mannie Bizuneh of Saint Mary of the Woods College (SMWC) was the individual champion, finishing with a time of 23:26, setting a new course record at NHTI.  Joining her as All-American was Steph Runyon at 24:32 (SMWC), Maureen Suchecki at 24:44 (PSU Worthington Scranton), Marquia Begaye at 24:49 (Dine), Steph Johnson at 24:54 (Dine), Amber Martin at 25:05 (PSU Worthington Scranton), and Jenn Shetley at 25:12 (SMWC).

Women’s Team Results:

   1. Saint Mary of the Woods College
   2. Penn State Worthington Scranton
   3. Dine College
   4. Southern Virginia University
   5. Penn College
   6. Warren Wilson College
   7. NHTI
   8. Florida College
   9. Washington Adventist University
  10. Vermont Tech