NORTHFIELD, Minn. --- The No. 5-ranked Carleton College women's cross country program won the Running of the Cows meet, powered by a trio of top-10 runners.
 
The Knights totaled a score of 43 points, holding off No. 8-ranked UW-La Crosse (48 points). The third-place finisher was Minnesota State Mankato—ranked No. 18 in NCAA Division II—with a total of 68 points. Fourth place went to No. 25-ranked Saint Benedict with a score of 120.
 
Hannah Preisser led the way for the Knights finishing fourth overall out of 213 runners with a time of 22:08.1. Joining her in the top-10 were senior Phoebe Ward in sixth place at 22:13.2 and junior Sophie McManus in eighth at 22:36.0.
 
UW-La Crosse countered with runners in third, seventh, and ninth place, giving Carleton a slight 18-19 led with two more runners left to score for both squads.
 
Aliya Larsen was next across the line for Carleton, coming in 11th place with a time of 22:59.4. She was followed moments later by UWL's fourth runner in 13th place.
 
Katie Hirsche, racing her first meet on the Bill Huyck Championship Course, rounded out the scoring for the Knights, placing 14th with a time of 23:12.6 to seal the team victory.
 
Two other Knights had top-25 results. Mary Blanchard crosses the finish line in 18th place with a time of 23:27.2. Libby Rowland crossed the finish line at 23:45.6 to earn 23rd place.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to Colfax, Wis, to run in the Blugold invitational hosted by UW-Eau Claire on Friday, Sept. 29.