Full Results I Photo Gallery I Antonio McDaniel Post Meet

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The IUPUI women's cross country team continued to make positive strides as the Jaguars staked claim to a fourth-place finish at the 2013 Summit League Championship Meet at Hefner Fields in Fort Wayne on Saturday (Nov. 2). Senior Rachel Zajac and junior Jordan Hanaway both earned Second Team All-Summit League honors, placing 10th and 11th, respectively. It was just the second time in school history IUPUI had two All-Summit League performers in the same season and Zajac was honored for the second time in her career. 

North Dakota State put together a dominating 25-point effort to earn the team title, while South Dakota State was second with 47. South Dakota (66), IUPUI (84), IPFW (123), Omaha (156) and Western Illinois (207) rounded out the team scoring. 

"It was much better effort than last year. The women really went after it today," IUPUI Head Coach Antonio McDaniel said. "We finished about where we expected. We were hoping to maybe sneak up there to third."

Zajac, one of the favorites going in, gutted out a 10th place finish, crossing in a time of 22:15.68. The fifth-year senior struggled with her breathing near the midpoint of the race and never truly factored. However, she becomes just the fifth runner in school history to earn multiple all-league honors, joining Lyndsey Emerson, Lindsy Walsh, Brittney McDuffee and Ana Paez. Her time was the eighth-fastest 6K posting in school history. 

"It was great for Rachel to get all-conference," McDaniel said. "Unfortunately, we were kind of hoping she'd be in the top five here. She kind of had a side stitch in the middle of the race. The big thing about Rach is she did not give up at all. In all honesty, she was just upset because she knew if she were up there near first or second that it would help the team a lot and that kind of shows the kind of character she has."

Hanaway clocked a time of 22:18.25, finishing just behind Zajac, accomplishing a goal of being an All-Summit Leaguer. 

"Jordan ran a great race, she moved up the whole time and earned her way to All-Conference, which is huge for her," McDaniel said. "She's really, really keyed for this meet and it showed." 

Sophomore Leah Brooks just missed All-Summit League honors, placing 15th in a time of 22:34.24. She and Hanaway ran side-by-side for more than half of the race before Hanaway pulled away over the final 1,500 meters. Freshman Savannah Turner gave the Jaguars' lineup a jolt by placing 22nd in a time of 22:49.16 and UW-Oshkosh-transfer Allie DeBaker closed the top five at 22:58.19. 

"This is by far (Savannah)'s best race. Maybe not a PR, but hands down the best race she's had all year," McDaniel said. "She moved up the whole time, she looked great at the end and she was close to being the top freshman but just missed it."

Turner finished less than two second's behind IPFW's Brittany Beard, who was the meet's top freshman. 

Sophomore Lexi Hunt gave a strong effort, closing at 23:01.41 in 28th and true freshman Valeria Guzman was 35th at 23:22.81. Junior Amy Mattingly and sophomore Julie Riggins closed the Jaguars' entries in 35th and 40th, respectively. 

NDSU dominated, putting five runners among the top nine in an easy team win. Sophomore Brecca Wahlund captured the individual title in a time of 21:24.22 and South Dakota State's Cheyanne Bowers was second at 21:34.38.

IUPUI will cap the 2013 season at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet in Madison, Wisc., on Friday, Nov. 15. 

Team Standings
1. North Dakota State - 25
2. South Dakota State - 47
3. South Dakota - 66
4. IUPUI - 84
5. IPFW - 123
6. Omaha - 156
7. Western Illinois - 207

Individual Results
10. Rachel Zajac - 22:15.68
11. Jordan Hanaway - 22:18.25
15. Leah Brooks - 22:34.24
22. Savannah Turner - 22:49.16
26. Allie DeBaker - 22:58.19
28. Lexi Hunt - 23:01.41
35. Valeria Guzman - 23:22.81
40. Amy Mattingly - 23:49.29
44. Julie Riggins - 23:59.77