WHEATON – The Carthage women's cross country team competed at the Gil Dodds Invitational Saturday morning located on the course of St. James Farm Forest Preserve. The Firebirds battled through the 6,000 meter course with a sixth place finish as a team and one individual finishing in the top 25. 


 
The Firebirds came in sixth place with 194 points.

DePauw won the meet with a total of 37 points and all five of their runners finishing in the top 15. 
 

 
Claire Guenther, with a personal record, led the Firebirds finishing in 21st place with a time of 23:46.50. In 26th place Jessie Pakaski finished in a time of 24:00.70, reaching a personal record race. Kylie Florance crossed the finish line next for the Firebirds, in a time of 24:18.90 and 31st place. Also with a personal record race, Leela Desharnais was the fourth Firebird to cross the finish line, coming in 52nd place with a time of 24:57.90. Kenzie Egert rounded out the Firebirds, with a time of 25:39.70 in 79th place, and securing the last personal record performance for the Firebirds. 



"The team had a great race today, we still need to work on our finish but overall the team came to compete! We are looking forward to an off meet weekend next week to heal up and rest before heading to the regional preview meet at Carlton College."
 


The Firebirds will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5 in the Running of the Cows meet, hosted by Carlton. Action is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at Bill Huyck Cross Country Course in Northfield, Minn. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.