EAST LANSING, Mich. - Saint Mary's College Cross Country took home a 17th place finish at the Spartan Invite, hosted by Michigan State University, on Friday morning. This was the first 6k race of the year for the Belles.
 
The field consisted of seven NCAA Division I schools, one Division II, and 16 Division III schools. Out of seven MIAA schools competing in the event, the Belles finished third, only behind Hope College and Calvin University.
 
Freshman Adelaide Lulich (Canonburg, PA) led the team for the second time in as many races this season as she took home a 76th place finish with a time of 22:46.4. Lulich was the lone Belle to finish inside the top 100 and took home 53 points for the team.
 
Four other Belles would finish with sub 25-minute times. Senior Jordan Siminski (Crown Point, IN) led with a time of 24:46.4. Sophomore Mary Caroline George (Louisville, KY) and junior Allie Glendening (Berrien Springs, MI) finished close behind one another with times of 24:52.9 and 24:54.6. Senior Cecilia Conrad (Norton Shores, MI) finished just inside the 25-minute time with a time of 24:59.7.
 
Senior Savannah Paulson (Carmel, IN) and sophomore Jackie Clemente (Richmond, IN) finished close behind one another as Paulson finished with a time of 25:11.7 and Clemente with a 25:18.8. Freshman Stella Behnan (Port Huron, MI) finished with a sub 26-minute time as well, finishing with a 25:45.1.
 
Freshman Elizabeth Salinas (Dearborn, MI) finished out the next group of runners for the Belles with a time of 26:04.3. Freshman Bridget Begley (Palos Heights, IL) followed with a time of 26:25.7 while freshman Ella Trenerry (Granger, IN) and sophomore Sarah Couri (Germantown Hills, IL) finished four seconds apart. Trenerry finished with a time of 26:43.4 and Couri with a 26:47.5.
 
Freshman Elsie Markillie (Richland, MI) and sophomore Megan McClain (Chicago, IL) finished just .3 seconds apart as Markillie finished with a 27:01.0 and McClain with a 27:01.3. Junior Josie DeWine (Yellow Springs, OH) and freshman Monica Klockenkemper (Godfrey, IL) finished in quick succession with times of 27:33 and 27:35.2.
 
Sophomore Greta Duke (Shelbyville, IL) and freshman Stella Lipinski (Lansing, MI) rounded out the competitors for the Belles as Duke finished with a 29:22.7 and Lipinski with a 31:08.6.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's is back in action on Saturday, September 19 as they head to Illinois to compete in the annual Gil Dodds Invitational hosted by Wheaton College.