Marquette Cross Country Earns Second Straight Berth to NCAA Championships

The 21st ranked Marquette women's Cross Country team received an invitation to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year.

It's been six or seven year process of gradually getting to this level," said head coach Dave Uhrich. "Sometimes it is harder to get there, and now we want to stay at this level every year. To do it two years in a row is pretty exciting."

The Golden Eagles finished third at the Great Lakes regional on Nov. 10, but earned on of the 13 at-large bids awarded by the NCAA. The Golden Eagles have been ranked as high as 15th this season and have won three meets.

"Our goal is to be as high in the top 20 at nationals as we can," said head coach
Dave Uhrich. "Last year, we were happy to get there and this year we want to make steps to improve our finish."

Sophomore Brianna Dahm (Two Rivers, Wis.) and junior Susan Barth (Bluffton, Ind.) have both led the team this season. Dahm has finished in the top three on the team in every meet this year and Bath in the top four. Dahm earned an automatic spot in the NCAA Championships by virtue of her sixth-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional. Barth recorded a 17th place finish out of 208 runners at the regional.

Seniors Bethany Harry (Forty Fort, Pa.) and Sarah McCullough (Naperville, Ill.) bring senior leadership as Harry brings not only senior leadership, but also NCAA Championship experience. Harry finished 92nd overall at the 2000 NCAA Championships.

The twin sister combination of juniors Jackie Swan (West Allis, Wis.) and Jessie Swan (West Allis, Wis.) have also been strong contributors to the team and look to continue that trend with theirfirst trip to the NCAA Championships. Jackie was redshirted last season and Jessie did not run at the Championships.

Sophomore Audrey Schiltz also will join the team to race the six-kilometers for the NCAA Championship. Schiltz has been a confident and consistent runner all season and will also make her second trip to the NCAA Championship.

The 2001 NCAA Championships will take place on Nov. 19 in Greenville, S.C. The women's race will begin at 12:15 P.M. EST, Furman University is the host of the Championship. The 2000 NCAA Women's champion was Colorado. Marquette finished 27th at last year's meet.