WINONA LAKE, IN – Competing in the Crossroads League Championship hosted at Grace College, the Spring Arbor University women's cross country team ran a hard fought battle against two of the top 25 teams in the NAIA (Taylor at number 4 and Indiana Wesleyan at number 25) and another one (Huntington) receiving votes.

When the results were finally tallied, the lady cougars ended up fifth, out of the nine teams that competed within the league. 

However, the results did not reflect the effort and determination that this year's team battled with all season.  "This is a great group of dedicated runners who work hard each and every day and train to bring honor and glory to God each and every race.  I am humbled to be their coach," said Head Coach Bill Bippes.

Sr. Danae Dracht led Spring Arbor and the entire field of runners to earn the Crossroads League MVP and earn an individual trip to the NAIA National meets in Lawrence, Kansas on November 22^nd and 23^rd.  Danae became the third runner over the past six years to win the overall race; (Joyce Woki won in 2008 and 2009 and Carissa "Hudson" Galloway won in 2011).   

The team will now prepare to race at the NCCAA National meet in Cedarville, Ohio on November 16^th.