Using four runners in the top-31 individuals, the Baylor's women's cross country team placed fifth at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Friday at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.
The 21st-ranked Bears totaled 228 points, which was just 21 back of fourth-place and 11th-ranked New Mexico (207) and 30 points ahead of sixth-place and 19th-ranked San Francisco (258).
For her fourth race of the fall, senior Maggie Montoya led the Bears with an 11th-place finish in 20:24.8. Lindsey Bradley was right behind Montoya, clocking a time of 20:30.9 to finish 15th in the 6,000-meter race.
Next to cross the finish line for the Bears was Peyton Thomas (29th, 20:44.2), while Anna West was 31st in 20:45.2. Baylor's final scoring runner was Gabby Satterlee, who was 142nd in a time of 21:50.7.
As a team the Bears were 10th through the first 2K of the race, but closed the gap to move to fifth through 4,000 meters and held that position to the end of the race.
NOTABLES
• Baylor’s top-five runners were unchanged from their last race out at the Notre Dame Invitational.
• BU beat seven teams that are ahead of it in the latest USTFCCCA coaches rankings, including No. 6 Michigan State, No. 10 Boise State, No. 15 BYU, No. 17 Yale, No. 18 Georgetown, No. 19 San Francisco and No. 20 Syracuse.
• BU's top-four runners totaled 86 points, which was better than every team in the field except for winner and fourth-ranked Washington (79).
• Other women's racers included Kathryn Foreman (191st, 22:47.3) and Alex Davis (DNF), who was knocked down in the first 1,000 meters and was unable to finish the race.
• Meanwhile, Hana Marsheck (103rd, 23:30.8), Madie Zimmerman (104th, 23:32.4) and Alison Andrews-Paul (107th, 23:41.1) all competed in the earlier women’s open 6K race.
TOP QUOTE #1
"The ladies did an outstanding job. We know we can be better, but to have four in the top 31 is amazing. Maggie and Lindsey got out really well and put themselves in the top-20 early. Peyton and Anna helped us make the big move, because they were back a little bit and just kept making their way up. Gabby closed strong and set a PR for the 6K. The course was probably 30 seconds slower than it was last year, because it was a little soggy and the grass was high. However, I am very, very pleased with the finish and we should make another nice move up in the polls.” -- head coach Todd Harbour on the race
WHAT'S NEXT
The men's and women's teams will take next week off, before racing at the Big 12 Cross Country Championship, Oct. 29, in Lubbock, Texas.
