NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University cross country teams got an up close and personal look at how they stack up against the rest of the teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday.
 
And if their performances at the Running of the Cows were any indication, coach Darren Schneider's squads stack up just fine.
 
Grant Schneider (Moorhead, Minn.) — who finished 15th among MIAC runners in the event — led the way for the Cardinal men, breaking the tape in 26:56.80, while Caeli McMahon (Holmen, Wis.) was the SMU women's top finisher for a second straight meet, posting a 6K time of 26:18.20.
 
Ryan Topolski (Onalaska, Wis.) was the second Cardinal across the finish line in the 8K men's race, stopping the clock in 27:45.30, with Sean Smyth (Pinehurst, N.C. / 28:07.70), Delorean Peterson (Blair, Wis. / 28:32.40, Sam Morris (Hockinson, Wash. / 28:35.40), Isaiah Fitzgerald (Rochester, Minn. / 28:42.10), Gabe Schonknecht (Chicago, Ill. / 29:31.80), Caden Fisher (Gardner, Kan. / 30:41.00), Evan Finney (West End, N.C. / 31:00.50), and Cade Kloss (Apple Valley, Minn. / 32:44.40) rounding out the SMU lineup.
 
Kendra Klobe (Glencoe, Minn.) finished right on McMahon's heels with a time of 26:41.10 for the Cardinal women, followed by Caroline Gearin (Osceola, Wis. / 26:53.90), Rheanna Hopkins (Bruce, Wis. / 27:08.80), Abbie Meyer (Sauk Centre, Minn. / 27:31.60), Megan Frosch (Oconomowoc, Wis. / 29:11.90), and Alyssa Kuffel (Rice Lake, Wis. / 34:11.73).
 
UW-La Crosse won the men's race with 36 points, followed by Carleton (75), Minnesota State-Mankato (84), Saint John's (129), and Macalester (164). SMU totaled 278 points to place 11th. On the women's side, host Carleton (43) captured the team title, edging UW-La Crosse (48) by five points, with Minnesota State-Mankato (68), Saint Benedict (120), and Bethel (161) rounding out the top five. Saint Mary's finished with 375 points to place 12th.
 
The Cardinals are now off until Sept. 29, when they head to Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis., to take part in the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational.