TERRE HAUTE, Ind.  -  Women's Cross Country wrapped up their season at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Bears finished 31st overall, led by junior Claire Semerod, who earned All-American status with her 40th-place finish.

Most of the team was hampered by illness and took a conservative approach to the race. Semerod and senior Paige Phillips were in around 160th place at the 1km mark. By the 3km mark, the two had moved all the way into 90th place. From there, Semerod was able to continue pushing through the field on the most difficult part of the course, moving into 45th place at the 5km mark. In a dead heat with a number of other runners heading into the finishing straightaway, she was able to make a few final passes to secure 40th, the final All-American spot, and just 0.2 seconds ahead of 41st, with a time of 21:47.

Phillips was second for the team, finishing 83rd with a time of 22:14. Freshman Mary Faltys was the Bear's 3rd finisher, running 23:32 and finishing 247th. Freshman Hannah Edwards and senior Sidney Triepke were the 4th and 5th place finishers, coming in 284 and 287, respectively.

"This was a very challenging few weeks for the ladies team. Several of them had been battling illness off and on for close to a month, and unfortunately, it hit almost the whole team heading into the meet," says Head Cross Country Coach Greg Ahnrud. "Claire had an incredible race, to be out in 165th at the 1k and pass 125 runners over the next 5k, including a near photo-finish for the last All-American spot. The rest of the ladies' team absolutely battled and gave it their best. We know they are capable of so much more, but I couldn't be more proud of how hard they fought given the situation."