Complete results: Collegiate | Open

MADISON, Wisc. – The No. 19 San Francisco women effectively attacked the challenge of a top-ranked field at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday afternoon at one of the nation's premier meets.

The Dons were one of 18 ranked teams in the collegiate women's race, and came away with a sixth place finish on the 6K loop at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. Paced by Charlotte Taylor's 10th place individual finish, USF earned 258 points to earn their stellar spot among the 31 invited squads.

"Charlotte proved today she is a legitimate front-runner for us at NCAAs and we have personnel who can step up to that level as well," noted USF head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "We are now just looking forward to training and getting a little bit better each day."

Taylor was one second off the lead pack at the 2K distance, and maintained her place by 4K. Her finish in 20:22.2 earned her USF's top individual mark with a pace of 5:28. She was followed to the finish line by Marie Bouchard's time of 20:45.0 to earn 30th. Tatjana Schulte and Elena Burkard were next to cross for the Dons, in 47th and 54th respectively, and Weronika Pyzik was the fifth USF student-athlete to clock in. Heleene Tambet and Daryl Phill rounded out the USF finishers in the collegiate division.

"I am very pleased, but not surprised with our women's performance today," explained Lehman-Winters. "We felt if we just had a decent performance we would finish between fifth and 10th. Honestly, the most encouraging fact is that we are capable of so much more."

USF bested many opponents who entered the weekend ranked higher in the national standings, including No. 6 Michigan State and No. 10 Boise State. Broncos' runner Brenna Peloquin took the individual title with a time of 20:00.8 as Boise State took 18th as a team, followed by the 19th-place finish of the Spartans.

The top three team finishes were from No. 4 Washington, No. 3 North Carolina State and No. 1 Providence. Peloquin was followed to the line by New Mexico's Alice Wright, Anna Rohrer of Notre Dame and Washington runner Amy-Eliose Neale, all crossing within seconds of each other.

Taking their largest contingent ever to the meet, the Dons fielded a team of five women in the morning open division race as well. Frederique Latraverse led the USF charge with a 12th place individual finish as USF finished fifth in the team standings.

Latraverse opened the meet five seconds off the leaders at the 2K split and moved into 13th by the 4K mark before eventually closing out the race with a time of 21:48.4. Ashley Moffett earned 26th for the Dons with Magdalena Dias crossing in 29th. Kelsey Nielsen and Emma Stahr finished in 32nd and 48th respectively as USF finished with 147 total points.

The Dons' second team held their own with many of the field's top squads, outpaced only by the second teams of open division winners Michigan State and North Carolina State and the top squads for Texas A&M and Washington State.

"We did not really have any lights out performances and we had some challenges, as every team does, competing in such a large quality field," added Lehman-Winters. "We have quite a few women who are just starting to get things going, and we are confident that we are going to get a whole lot better in the next month."

Next up for the Dons is a trip to San Diego for the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships. The preseason league favorite, USF is seeking its sixth WCC title at first-year race host Tecolote Shores Park on Oct. 28.
 

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USF Results
Collegiate Women – 6th place (258 points)
10. Charlotte Taylor – 20:22.2
30. Marie Bouchard – 20:45.0
47. Tatjana Schulte – 20:57.9
54. Elena Burkard – 21:00.2
117. Weronika Pyzik – 21:37.2
158. Heleene Tambet – 22:01.7
168. Daryl Phill – 22:11.2

Women's Open – 5th place (147 points)
12. Frederique Latraverse – 21:48.4
26. Ashley Moffett – 22:11.9
29. Magdalena Dias – 22:21.7
32. Kelsey Nielsen – 22:23.6
48. Emma Stahr – 22:36.7