NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.) and Isaiah Brindamour (Hinckley, Minn.) led the way for the Saint Mary's University cross country teams at Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, held on the campus of St. Olaf College.
 
Swanson posted a career-best 6K time of 25:25 to lead the SMU women to an 11th-place finish, while Brindamour stopped the clock with an 8K time of 28:10 to lead the way for the three-man men's squad.
 
Amanda Tuvey (West St. Paul, Minn.) finished right on Swanson's heels, breaking the tape in 25:37, while Caroline Gearin (Osecola, Wis. / 26:46), Emma Ririe (Darien, Ill. / 29:11), and Rachel Simon (Foley, Minn. / 29:43) rounded out the Cardinals' lineup.
 
On the men's side, Quinn Steinbrecher (Holmen, Wis.) was second to Brindamour across the finish line with a time of 28:44, and Gabe Bickerstaff (Rollingstone, Minn.) chipped in a 29:14 effort.
 
St. Olaf narrowly edged three-time defending MIAC champion and crosstown rival Carleton, 37-43 to take home the women's title. Gustavus placed third with 97 points, followed by Bethel in fourth with 123 and Saint Benedict in fifth with 127.
 
Saint Benedict's Fiona Smith was as good as advertised, clocking in at 21:29.91 - the third-fastest 6K time in MIAC Championship history - to take home individual honors. Smith is the Bennies' third individual MIAC champion in history and first since 2018.
 
Carleton's Clara Mayfield turned in a runner-up performance with a time of 21:40.36. St. Olaf's Ellen Mickelson crossed the finish line more than a minute later at 22:52.95, followed by Carleton's Helen Cross at 23:03.26, and St. Scholastica's Maj Lis Helmer at 23:09.01. 
 
Carleton captured its fourth straight men's title with 50 total points, followed by St. Olaf in second with 59, and Saint John's in third with 86. Gustavus placed fourth with 98 points and Concordia rounded out the top five with 100 points.
 
Concordia senior Munir Isahak was the first to cross the finish line, clocking in at 24:50.2 to become the Cobbers' third MIAC cross country individual champion in history and the first since 1991. In second place was Carleton's Stephen Lavey (24:59.0), followed by Saint John's Lloyd Young (25:07.1), St. Olaf's Logan Bocovich (25:11.9), and St. Scholastica's Calvin Boone (25:20.5).
 
The Cardinals are now off until Nov. 13, when they travel to Colfax, Wis., to take part in the NCAA Regional.