Edinboro Wins PSAC Women's Cross Country Title

BLOOMSBURG-- Junior Rachel Lanzel of Edinboro won the 2006 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women's Cross Country Individual title to lead her team to its ninth straight conference title.

Lanzel, the 2005 PSAC runner-up, covered the 6,000 meter course, in a time of 22:20. The course was sloppy from a 12-hour rain prior during the night and the men's race that was run before the women. Taking second place was Nicole Blaesser of Indiana who finished in 22:31, while Holly Whollery of Slippery Rock was third in 23:05.

Rounding out the top five were Pricilla Jennings of Millersville in fourth in 23:18, while Tasha Wheatley of Clarion was fifth in 23:35.

In positions six through 10 were Jennifer Harpp of Slippery Rock in 23:40; Joanna Horstmann of Kutztown seventh in 23:41; Becca Nungesser of Edinboro in eighth; Stephanie Williams of Kutztown ninth and Beth Schwing of Bloomsburg in 10th.

In the battle for the team title, Edinboro won its ninth straight title in a close battle with Kutztown. The Fightin Scots, which placed four runners in the top 20, had 61 points to 68 for the Golden Bears of Kutztown. Edinboro string of PSAC titles started in 1998 and is overall its 15th PSAC cross country title.

Also earning All-PSAC honors with a top 20 finish were Kristie Kershaw (11th) of West Chester; Amber Hackenberg (12th) of Bloomsburg; Ashley Ferraro (13th) from Edinboro; Desiree Bower (14th) of Kutztown; Lindsey Scheller (15th) of Lock Haven; Kristine Beringer (16th) from Edinboro; Chelsea Thomas (17th) of Kutztown; Rachel Hall (18th) of Mansfield; Maureen Newell (19th) from Indiana and Raissa Weis (20th) of Slippery Rock.

All the teams will be back in action next week at Slippery Rock for the NCAA East Regional Championships.