Hazy Day In Northfield

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (9/16/17)---Concordia kicked off its two-meet mega-team stretch by finishing  in 12th place at the 22-team St. Olaf Invitational.

The meet featured over 321 runners and the Cobbers were able to place their Top 3 runners in the Top 75 of the meet. The meet was also contested in muggy, hot and humid conditions which led to mostly slower conditions and times from last year.

For the first time all season Concordia's No.1 and No.2 finishers traded places. Junior Brianna Gruenberg claimed the team's No.1 spot for the first time in 2017 as she clocked a 24:47 over the 6K course. Her time pushed her into the Top 70 of the race as she came home in 63rd place.   

Kara Andersen, who had been the team's No.1 finisher at the first two meets of the year, was second for the Cobbers at the Olaf Invitational. She ran a 25:19.

The Cobbers No.3, 4 and 5 runners were separated by 25 seconds. A pair of Sara(h)s were third and fourth at the meet for CC. Sarah Curran, who didn't compete in the meet last year, crossed the line in 25:30 and Sara Whiteman recorded a time of 25:42. Whiteman was also in the Top 5 for the Cobbers at last year's St. Olaf Invite.

Maria West rounded out the Top 5 for Concordia at the meet. She clocked a 25:55 which is 20-seconds faster than her time from last season at the same meet.  

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS:
1. Wis.-Eau Claire - 57
2. Carleton - 68 
3. Minnesota-Duluth - 101          
4. St. Olaf – 107
5. Minnesota State - 131              
6. Winona State - 135    
7. Bethel (Minn.) - 212  
8. Gustavus Adolphus - 212        
9. Willamette - 282                         
10. Macalester - 299       
11. Central College - 357               
12. Concordia-Moorhead - 366  
13. St. Scholastica – 380
14. St. Catherine - 391   
15. St. Cloud State - 405
16. Minnesota-Morris - 528        
17. Wis.-Superior - 547  
18. Saint Mary's (Minn.) - 580    
19. Bethany Lutheran - 601         
20. Martin Luther - 611 
21. Northwestern (Minn.) - 625
22. Viterbo - 654              
23. Northland - 680

WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will continue with their mega-meets when they compete in the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.