Women's Cross Country Finishes Second at PSAC Championships

SLIPPERY ROCK—The Bloomsburg University women's cross country team finished second in the 2005 PSAC Championships, the highest finish for the Huskies in school history. The last time the Huskies finished in the top three was 1988, when the team took third place.

Bloomsburg finished with 97 points, while Edinboro won the race with 34 points and Kutztown finished third with 100 points.

The Huskies were led by Amber Hackenberg (Middleberg/Middleberg) who earned All-PSAC honors for the second year in a row with a fourth-place finish. Hackeberg completed the 6K course in 22:30. Her finish is the second-best in school history and the highest since Toni Wikoski finished third in 1993.

The race was won by Julie Nemergut of Edinboro who ran a 21:48 to lead the Fighting Scots to their eighth consecutive title.

Ashley Shuck (Milton/Milton) also earned All-PSAC honors, taking ninth in the race with a time of 22:58. Katie Conlon (Inkerman/Pittston Area) and Beth Schwing (Hershey/Lower Dauphin) came in 25th and 26th with times of 23:40 and 23:41, respectively. Rounding out Bloomsburg's scoring was Mary Bacher (New Tripoli/Allentown Central Catholic) who was 33rd in 23:51.

Also running for the Huskies were Shannon Hoffman (Watstontown/Warrior Run) and Karen Hause (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia). Hoffman finished 41st in 24:11, while Hause was 43rd in 24:19.

Next weekend, the women will travel to Lock Haven to compete in the 2005 NCAA East Regional. Race time is schedule for 11:00 a.m.