Carlton and St. Olaf Dominate MIAC Championships

While the MSHL Championships were going on at "home," teams from Northfield dominated the 2013 MIAC Women's Cross Country Championships Saturday at Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul. In the women's race Carleton won their second conference title in three years, and St. Olaf individuals - including champion Noelle Olson(21:49.5) - were the first two across the finish line. For the men, St. Olaf(20), led by repeat individual champion Grant Wintheiser(24;48.9) took the team title, while Carlton(81) was the runner-up.

The Carlton women overcame the strong performance by the Oles top two thanks to a strong pack. Carleton women finished fifth, sixth, seventh, 15th, and 18th to score 51 points and beat their crosstown rivals by 18. St. Olaf's Olson and runner-up Jorden Johnson(21:30.3) led the team to and a second-place team finish(69 points).

Saint Benedict was third with 115 points. Macalester upset pre-race predictions with 136 points to finish fourth, and defending champion Gustavus scored 155 in fifth. Hamline was just four points behind the Gusties in sixth place.

St. Thomas(181) was seventh. Bethel was eighth with 211. St. Catherine's 233 points gave the Wildcats a ninth-place finish and Concordia rounded out the top 10 with 252 points. Saint Mary's (272) and Augsburg (301) occupied the final two spots.

St. Olaf's Noelle Olson (Photo by Matt Higgins, MIAC)

WOMEN'S RESULTS 

The St. Olaf finished one, two, three in the men's race and locked up the team title with their fourth and fifth runners finishing sixth and eighth.

St. Thomas(104) and St. John's battled for third.  Hamline(175) and Macalester(184) for fifth.  Gustavus(207) was seventh, followed by Concordia Moorhead(226), St. Mary(239), Bethel(243), and Augsburg(274).

MEN"S RESULTS

The MIAC has a home page dedicated to the 2013 MIAC Cross Country Championships, including information, links, results, recaps, photos and more.