COLUMBIA – Benedictine Cross Country competed in one of the Collegiate Open divisions at the annual Gans Creek Classic. 

Competing for the first time as the No. 23-ranked NAIA Women's program, the Raven Women placed 9th while the Raven Men finished in 8th place.

The Raven Women were paced by two top 60 finishers in Helen Ullirch (58th) and Catherine Aaron (59th). The duo was joined by Elizabeth Skendzel (69th), Josie Jensen (79th) and Emilie Nelson (87th) as the Ravens contributing to the overall team score. 

The field of teams competing in the Women's Division with Benedictine consisted of NCAA Div. I, Div. II, Junior College and NAIA programs. Two NAIA programs finished ahead of the Ravens in Indiana Wesleyan University in fourth and Grace College in sixth place.

The Raven Men were paced bye Joshua Melendez (29th), who was the lone Ravens finisher in the top 50 individually. John Joyce (71st), Nicholas Kling (76th) and Will Niederee (93rd) gave the Ravens three additional top-100 finishers as Joseph Accurso (120th) was the final Raven to contribute to the final team results.

The competition division for the Raven Men, was just like the division for the women, and was a combination of NCAA Div. I, Div. III, Junior Colleges programs. Indiana Wesleyan and Park University were the only two NAIA programs ahead of Benedictine with Indiana Wesleyan taking the top spot while Park took fifth.

The programs are off until Oct. 11, when they take part in the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt (IA) in Sioux Center, Iowa.

www.ravenathletics.com } #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu