Ellingson paces Simpson at Wartburg

WAVERLY, Iowa – Junior Catie Ellingson turned in her third top-five finish in four meets this season, leading the Simpson women's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the 11th Dan Huston Invitational hosted by Wartburg.

Ranked No. 10 in the Central Region in the most recent USTFCCCA Cross Country Rankings, the Storm defeated conference-foe and the No. 9 ranked team in the region, Loras, by six points, 143-149. Simpson last faced Loras on Sept. 12 at the Les Duke Invitational, where the Duhawks edged the Storm by 11 points, 156-167. Simpson also defeated Cornell, which placed ninth with 251 points.

Ellingson placed third of 178 runners, completing the 6 km course in 22:55.

Senior Sarah Hammel registered her highest finish since the first meet of the season, placing 14th after running a 23:42. Senior Jess Christensen placed 23rd (23:57), senior Tricia Davis placed 48th (24:43) and sophomore Signe Mayland placed 89th (25:42) to round out the top-five finishers for the Storm.

Next week Simpson travels to La Crosse, Wis. and the UW-La Crosse Neubauer Invitational.