KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Albion College had three of the top 15 runners to finish third in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's cross country jamboree. The meet was held at the Eastern Hills Golf Club.
Led by Jessica Shaw, Megan Wickens and Emily Allison, Albion's total of 103 was 14 points better than Alma College. Calvin College took first with a total of 20, followed by Hope College at 59.
Shaw, a sophomore from Allegan who achieved all-league second team status in her first season at the collegiate level, had her highest finish in a MIAA race. She was the fourth runner to reach the finish line, completing the 6K course in 22 minutes, 54 seconds.
"Jessica showed her toughness today and went with the leader from the start," Albion Coach Derick Lawrence said. "Jessica finished seventh last year at the jamboree, improving three spots this year getting fourth."
The top four overall runners were tightly grouped, finishing in a 25-second window. The No. 5 runner, Alma's Kaitlyn Arnold, reached the finish 26 seconds behind Shaw.
There was an 80-second gap between Shaw and the Britons No. 2 runner. Megan Wickens finished 14th individually at 24:14, and Emily Allison was three seconds behind Wickens to finish 15th.
Albion's third, fourth and fifth runners are all first-year students. There was a 104-second gap between Allison and Leanne Wegley. Wegley was the 47th runner to reach the finish line, completing her race in 26:01. Allison Snyder was 55th in 26:12.
"Our first-year runners are gaining valuable experience each meet and this was a great day for our women getting third place," Lawrence said. "Last year the women were fifth at the jamboree. We are progressing nicely and getting stronger each week."
Albion's next race is the Benedictine University Invitational on Oct. 10.
