MADISON, Wis. - The Western Michigan women's cross country team turned in a team score of 637 and an average team time of 22:03 at the Wisconsin Pre-National 6K race Saturday, Oct. 13 to finish 24th among stiff competition. Senior Sarah Anderson led the Brown & Gold with a personal best time of 20:56, finishing 34th. 

Among Western Michigan competing in the seeded race included several ranked opponents such as No. 1 Colorado, No. 4 Oregon, No. 7 Arkansas, No. 9 BYU, and many more. Arkansas finished in first place with an average time of 20:24. 

"I am really proud of how the ladies competed today," said associate head coach Taryn Sheehan. "Anytime you can run in a field of this size it's easy to get overwhelmed or lose your concentration. The group did a really good job of engaging in the race. I was also really pleased with how well we moved in the middle. That's a spot we have struggled in the past and I think we looked a lot stronger in the middle of the race."

Outside of Anderson, Sormain, Sipes, Hall, and Allen each ran career-best 6K's. 

Bronco Results
34. Sarah Anderson, 20:56
101. Maria McDaniel, 21:45.1
121. Juliane Sormain, 21:55.3
190. Paisley Sipes, 22:44.3
191. Brittney Hall, 22:50
225. Courtney Allen, 23:45.1
230. Chloe McEachern, 24:03.3

"Sarah did a great job of picking people off and closed really strong the last 2K," Sheehan commented. "I'm really excited to see what she can do as we enter the championship part of the season. Maria and Juliane ran really strong races. Juliane ran a 50-second personal best which considering some of the mud on the course was really impressive. I was really proud of Paisely today. She didn't have the best start but maintained her composure and worked really well the rest of the race. To race the way she did as a freshman the first time in such an elite field is very exciting. Brittney ran a really strong middle part of the race and ran a 30 second personal best, along with Courtney. Chloe didn't have the best day but has been strong in practice and I know she'll be ready in the month ahead."

Next up, Western Michigan is scheduled to race in the Eastern Michigan University Fall Classic next Friday, Oct. 19 in Ypsilanti, Mich.