After winning the 2007 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships last weekend, the No. 3 Washington University women’s cross country team justified its ranking with a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., Saturday morning. The team was led by three seniors, Tricia Frisella, Tyler Mulkin and Kate Pentak, who each garnered All-American honors.

The Bears matched their best outing in school history. The team finished third overall in both 2004 and 2005, and improved from its fourth-place outing last year at the 2006 NCAA Championships.

Frisella paced the Red and Green with her time of 21:49, which was good for 18th-place overall. Pentak and Mulkin soon followed, finishing in 23rd and 24th with times of 21:56 and 21:57, respectively. Frisella and Mulkin’s earned All-American honors for the second time in their careers, while Pentak collected the award for the first time.

“We ran a really good team race, especially up front,” said Frisella. “It was a little cold out there, but nothing we didn’t expect.”

Sophomore Hope Rathnam finished fourth for the Bears and 101st overall with her time of 23:00. Classmate Molly Schlamb rounded out the scoring for Wash. U. with her 118th-place finish in 23:06.

The Lady Bears’ team score of 194 points was short of Amherst College’s total of 120. The Lord Jeffs won the meet after their second-place finish last year. Plattsburgh State finished second with 159 points, while Calvin College (199) and Geneseo State University (249) rounded out the top five. University Athletic Association rival Case Western University ended sixth with 264 points.

“If everything lined up perfectly today, we would have had a chance to win,” said Head Coach Jeff Stiles after the meet. “But anytime that you perform well at the NCAA Championship meet, you have to come away feeling good about yourself.”

A group of more than 50 fans made the 500-plus mile trek to Minnesota to cheer on the Lady Bears.

“It was the best part of the national meet,” admitted Frisella. “They were out of control.”

The senior trio leaves Wash. U. with three NCAA Regional Championship victories and three UAA titles. The seniors also led the Bears to three third-place NCAA finishes, as well as a fourth-place finish last year. However, even as their collegiate running careers come to an end, their minds are still on the Red and Green.

“This meet gave great experience to our younger runners,” added Frisella. “We’re going to have great leaders in the future.”

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