Women's Cross Country Wins Fifth Consecutive SLIAC Crown

Published: April 13, 2021

HILLSBORO, Ill. - The Greenville College women's cross country team won their fifth consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) title with a first place finish out of six teams at the 2008 SLIAC Championships held at the Hillsboro Country Club & Park District. The title is also the Panthers' 13th overall.Greenville's Michelle Sutton claimed the individual crown by posting a time of 22:53 on the 6K course to be named the women's cross country runner of the year.Fontbonne University, Principia College, Webster University, Maryville University and Blackburn College placed second through sixth respectively. Greenville dominated the race, posting 19 points total and placing six individuals in the top 10. Also leading Greenville to victory were Talen Gerber (24:09), Geavona Kinney (24:43) and Jennifer Sutton (24:51) in second, fourth and fifth place respectively. Fontbonne's Rachel Hanson ran a time of 24:31 to place third overall.Earning all-conference honors for the women were Michelle Sutton, Gerber, Hanson, Kinney, Jennifer Sutton, Principia's Merrilee Hale and Greenville's Kristi Ellsworth on the first team. Second team all-SLIAC honors were given to Maryville's Jes Banda, Principia's Dolly Sommer, Fontbonne's Kaitlin Titsworth and Tricia Morris and Greenville's Mishona Grimes, Katie Stouffer and Ashton Palmer. Banda was also named the 2008 Newcomer of the Year. Also announced during the All-Star Trophy Awards Ceremony following the race was the Greenville College coaching staff as SLIAC coach of the year, while Principia College received the Sportsmanship Award.