Rising Talent Helps Women’s XC Team Stay Strong

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Franciscan University of Steubenville's women's cross country team graduated many top runners last season, but new talent joined the team to finish the 2011 season strong. For the fourth straight year in a row, the Lady Barons clinched the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title and the top runners received All-Conference recognition for their performances.

"They went very deep in training this year and were a very tight pack; it really showed," said head coach Dan Kuebler. "All seven women ran really well throughout the season and that shows in their recognition."

From the beginning of the season, the women's team proved to be as competitive as in years past. The Lady Barons finished third at the first meet of the season, the Westminster Invitational. The team traveled to the University of Notre Dame for the National Catholic Championships later that month, finishing in 23^rd place against Div. I, II and III schools.

The ultimate time for peak performance is the conference championship, and the Lady Barons did not disappoint. Since joining the AMCC in 2008, Franciscan's Lady Baron cross country team has always earned the conference title. This season continued the legacy.

Sophomore Nicole Krajewski won the individual title for the second year in a row, finishing in 23:32.

The entire women's varsity team –Krajewski, Theresa Evans (24:35), Sara Mueller (25:43), Molly Chambers (25:53), Mary Neven Brockway (26:42), Danielle Bonnessen (26:51), and Claire Bach (28:02) – received All-Conference recognition following the conference championship.

Krajewski also received All-American honors at the NCAA regional championship after finishing 20th in the 6K with a time of 22:23.

The Lady Barons will again graduate many runners, including  Evans, Anna Hogan, Mueller, Nicole Bratton, Brockway, Lauren Childers, Ellen Klein and Kate Paulmann.

Coach Kuebler noted the seniors' impact on the cross country program: "It has been a joy to coach them, and they will be sorely missed next year. Not only for how well they ran, but more importantly for the people they are."