MSSU Women Place Third at NCAA Championships

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Missouri Southern's women's cross country team finished third at the 2009 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships Saturday, the highest finish in team history, to lead all MIAA teams at the USI Cross Country Course.
  
Junior Ashley Siler and senior Kimi Shank led the Lions, placing third and fourth, respectfully. Siler finished the 6K course in a time of 20:43.6, while Shank was just a little under a second behind Siler at 20:44.5. Senior Courtney Waltbillig was 20th with a time of 21:45.5, while fellow senior Ashley Bunch placed 25th with a time of 21:53.1. All four were named All-Americans with their top-25 performances.
  
Missouri Southern also led MIAA men's teams with an 11th-place finish. The Southwest Baptist men placed 15th, while Pittsburg State finished in 18th place. Central Missouri's Laban Sialo led all MIAA runners with a 22nd-place finish to earn All-America honors. Missouri Southern's Brennan Benkert placed 24th and is an All-American as well.