By
DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
WAVERLY, Iowa — Saturday afternoon's NCAA Central Regional was the last collegiate race for Saint Mary's University's Danielle Franke (Mounds View, Minn.) — and what a final chapter the Cardinal senior wrote.
For the sixth time in as many meets this season — and for the 15th time in the Cardinals' last 17 meets over the past three seasons — Franke was the Cardinal leader, running a six-kilometer time of 25:12.1 to guide Saint Mary's to a 26th-place finish in the 30-team field.
Anna Marinc (Carol Stream, Ill.) was the second Cardinal across the finish line, stopping the clock in 26:25.0, with Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis. / 26:52.6), Amelia Sweet (Prescott, Wis. / 27:12.5), Emma Ririe (Darien, Ill. / 28:17.3), Tabby Fabin (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / 28:19.7), and Madalyn Bollig (St. Croix Falls, Wis. / 29:47.6) rounding out the Saint Mary's lineup.
Injuries and illnesses took its toll on the Cardinal men, who only had three runners healthy enough to compete in the season-ending meet.
Jon Meaden (Rosemount, Minn.) led the way for Saint Mary's, clocking an eight-kilometer time of 28:21.6, followed by
Isaiah Olsem (Fulda, Minn. / 28:33.4) and
Axel Daood (St. Charles, Minn. / 29:44.1).
Host Wartburg took home the men's team title, totaling 52 points to edge Carleton by four points. St. Olaf (108), St. Thomas (129), and Luther (152) rounded out the top five. Carleton's Matthew Wilkinson won the individual title, tourning the 8K course in 24:56.8, followed by Joe Freiburger (Wartburg / 25:20.9), Lucas Mueller (Carleton / 25:38.7), Morgan Shirley-Fairbairn (Wartburg / 25:41.5), and Cameron Meikle (Carleton / 25:42.5).
On the women's side, Carleton captured the team title with 57 points, edging out Wartburg by just two points. Loras finished third (125), with St.Thomas (129) and St. Olaf (131) close behind in fourth and fifth, respectively. Loras' Kassie Rosenbum was crowned the women's individual champion with a 6K time of 22:00.0, edging out Wartburg's Carina Collet, who was second in 22:06.4. Amanda Mosborg (Carleton / 22:10.7), Aubrie Fisher (Wartburg / 22:34.3) and Clara Mayfield (Carleton / 22:37.7) completed the top five.
