SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2022) – Kassie Parker led the way for the No. 16-ranked Loras College women's cross country team with a dominant school-record performance at the University of Notre Dame National Catholic Championship on Friday, traversing the 5,000-meter course in 17:02.06 to break her own record by more than 30 seconds and help the Duhawks place third among Division I, II and III programs.

Parker put a 10-second gap on second-place finisher Olivia Markezich from Notre Dame to take the title, besting a runner who finished 11th at the 2021 NCAA Division I National Championship. Brianna Renner was the next Division III competitor to cross the line in 23rd with a time of 18:56.91 and freshman Bailey Vaughan made a statement in her first outing against Division I runners, taking 30th with a time of 19:13.73. Alison Bryant finished 38th with a time of 19:28.01 and Kaylee Osterberger was the final scorer for the Duhawks in 42nd with a time of 19:37.35. Ellie Osterberger added a 45th-place finish in 19:40.18 and Marianne Gleason (20:15.52) and Alexis Riesberg (20:15.99) came in on each other's heels for 71st and 72nd, respectively.

The Fighting Irish won the meet with 20 points and Division II Lewis University finished runner-up with 78 points. The Duhawks posted 118 points for third and the highest-finishing Division III team in attendance.

The Duhawks take a week off from competition before heading to the site of the NCAA Division III National Championship, taking a peek at the national course at the Pre-Nationals meet, hosted by Olivet College, on Saturday, Oct. 1. The race begins at 11 A.M. (ET).