SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The IUPUI women's cross country team put up an impressive performance in the Gold Race of Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational on Friday (Sept. 30), placing 11th overall while six of the team's eight entries clocked new personal best 5K times. Junior Ellie Cates led the way with a massive personal best effort, crossing the finish line in a time of 18:05.7, taking 52 seconds off her prior best. In doing so, she moved into No. 14 on the program's all-time list at the 5K distance. 

Just behind her, junior Madison Fry finished at 18:07.2, taking 45 seconds off her prior best to move into 15th on IUPUI's all-time list. 

Cates and Fry continually moved up throughout the entire race after running 5:35 in their opening mile. 

"I'm super proud of how our team is coming along," Cates said. "It's a great confidence boost with conference coming up. Staying together as a pack is one of our strong suits."

The ever strengthening IUPUI pack was solid throughout the 5,000 meters as Hannah Sale notched an 11-second personal best with a time of 18:23.1 and freshman Julie Smith spun a time of 18:47.6 to take 26 seconds off her prior best. Sophomore Laci Provenzano continued to provide the Jaguars with a steady No. 5 presence at 19:03.4, shedding 30 seconds off her previous best. 

Senior Sophia Taylor crossed at 19:30.2 and Claire Mehling and Kara Krol finished in succession at 118th and 119th, respectively. Mehling finished at 19:44.9 and Krol finished at 19:49.8. 

Nebraska won the team scoring with 71 points, edging both Cal Poly (71) and Montana State (75) for the victory. Nebraska freshman Alea Hardie collected the individual win in a time of 16:44.2. 

In the earlier open race, Wini Barnett led IUPUI's three entries with a time of 20:21.4. 

IUPUI will now turn the focus to 6,000 meters as the Jaguars will compete at the Bradley 'Pink' Classic on Oct. 14 in Peoria, Ill.