Results

EDINBORO, Pa. –  The Slippery Rock University women's cross country team placed second at the Doug Watts Open hosted by Edinboro University Saturday.
 
Defending regional champion Edinboro, the current No. 1 ranked team in the region, won the meet with 38 points after placing four runners in the top eight places. Slippery Rock, ranked fifth in the region, finished just nine points back in second with 47 total points. Gannon followed in third with 62 points, while Division I St. Bonaventure was fourth with 103 points. Lake Erie (145 points) and Mercyhurst (153 points) rounded out the team standings.
 
Marianne Abdalah led Slippery Rock and finished ahead of all other collegiate runners for the second straight race since transferring in during the offseason from West Virginia University. She covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:51 to finish second overall to one unattached runner while beating the next collegiate finisher by 14 seconds.
 
Slippery Rock placed all five of its scorers in the top 16 with Anna Igims finishing ninth in 23:55, Madison Murtland placing 12th in 24:13, Katie Plassio finishing 13th in 24:28, Lexie Firment taking 15th in 24:32 and Chelsea Hunt placing 16th in 24:34.
 
The Rock's top seven were rounded out by Steph Keelon in 19th in 24:59 and Maddie Grillo in 29th in 26:10.  
 
A total of six teams and 63 runners took part in the competition.
 
Slippery Rock will take next week off before returning to action Sept. 25 at the Lock Haven Invitational at Lock Haven University's West Branch Course.
 


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