GENEVA, Ill. (Sept. 10, 2022) – The No. 19 Loras College women's cross country team made a statement and history on Saturday at the Aurora University Spartan Classic, running away with the team title with the first perfect score in program history as the Duhawks claimed the top-five spots, led by fifth-year senior Brianna Renner coming away as the race champion.

Loras could not have asked for a better test run of the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Championship course than the stellar performance. Running shoulder to shoulder with Kassie Parker from start to finish of the 6-kilometer race, Renner crossed the finish line just ahead of her teammate in 23:31.0 and Parker took second in 23:32.7. In her first race as a Duhawk, Alison Bryant took third with a time of 24:01.5 and freshman Bailey Vaughan finished fourth with a time of 24:07.5. Ellie Osterberger saw her opportunity to get the Duhawks a perfect 15 points and passed three competitors to take the fifth spot with a time of 24:14.6 for fifth. Kaylee Osterberger finished 11th with a time of 24:38.7 and Marianne Gleason came across the finish as the Duhawks' seventh runner in 15th with a time of 24:55.2.

The Duhawks dominated the field, putting a 57-point gap between them and second-place Lansing Community College with 72 points. Millikin University finished third with 81 points.

The Duhawks will travel to the renowned National Catholic Championship on Friday, Sept. 16 at the University of Notre Dame to compete against Division I, II and III teams in a traditionally competitive race. Race time in South Bend, Ind. is set for 3:30 P.M. (ET).