By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University cross country teams had been gearing up for Saturday all season long — the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
 
For Danielle Franke (Mounds View, Minn.), the meet held even more significance — it would be her last MIAC Championships.
 
And what a swan song it proved to be.
 
Franke clocked a career-best six-kilometer time of 24:18.5 to place 54th overall and lead the Cardinal women to an 11th-place team finish.
 
Jordan Malikowski (Royalton, Minn.) was also at the top of his game for the Cardinals, clocking a season-best eight-kilometer time of 27:24.39 in helping Saint Mary's to an 11th-place team finish.
 
Along with Franke's team-leading time of 24:18, the Cardinal women also got a 25:10.2 from Anna Marinc (Carol Stream, Ill.) and a 25:52.2 by Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.), with Amelia Sweet (Prescott, Wis. / 26:55.1), Emma Ririe (Darien, Ill. / 27:47.6), Tabby Fabin (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / 28:05.1), Madalyn Bollig (St. Croix Falls, Wis. / 28:50.6), Julia VanWatermeulen (Ellsworth, Wis. / 29:03.7), and Alyssa Thiel (Burr Ridge, Ill. / 29:29.5) rounding out the Saint Mary's lineup.
 
Isaiah Olsem (Fulda, Minn.) was the second Cardinal male across the finish line, stopping the clock in 27:48.44, following by Jon Meaden (Rosemount, Minn. / 28:28.71), Caedon McCartney (Owatonna, Minn. / 29:03.98), Axel Daood (St. Charles, Minn. / 29:30.87), and Ben Borash (Bowlus, Minn. / 29:56.41).
 
Carleton — fueled by the event's top two finishers — took home the men's team title, finishing with 50 points to easily outdistance runner-up St. Thomas (63). St. Olaf (69), Gustavus (109), and Hamline (140) rounded out the top five.
 
The Knights' Matthew Wilkinson posted a winning time of 24:37.34 to edge out teammate Lucas Mueller, who recorded a 24:58.95, to take home individual honors. Karl Wachter of St. Thomas (25:05.35), and Fernando Benitez (25:07.68) and Frank Gustafson (25:12.05) completed the men's top five.
 
The Carleton women completed the Knights' team sweep, winning the team title with 25 points, well in front of runner-up St. Thomas (68) and third place St. Olaf (79). Gustavus (108) and Concordia (149) rounded out the top five.
 
Carleton's Amanda Mosborg took home the women's individual crown, breaking the tape in 21:33.6, four seconds faster than second-place Tierney Winter of Gustavus, who stopped the clock in 21:56.9. Carleton's Clara Mayfield was third (22:00.7), followed by Bryony Hawgood of St. Olaf (22:04.0) and Helen Dolan of Hamline (22:03.99).
 
The Cardinals close out their 2019 schedule on Nov. 16, heading to Waverly, Iowa, to take part in the NCAA Central Regional.