Junior Leah Wessler led the Colorado College women's cross country team to a seventh-place finish by finishing 10^th individually Saturday at the Fort Hays State Cross Country Open Saturday in Hays Kan.
 
Wessler, the reigning Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference individual champion, covered the 5k course in a time of 18 minutes, 27.4 seconds, beating here previous season best by less than one second.
 
Freshman Leah Veldhuisen was the team's second runner to finish, placing 43^rd with a time of 19:21.8. She was followed by juniors Stefani Messick in 46^th place (19.25.5) and Katie Sandfort in 51^st (19:35.3). Sophomore Patty Atkinson, junior Allie Crimmins and sophomore Cory Luna finished 62^nd, 63^rd and 64^th, respectively.
 
The Tigers were the highest non-Division II team with its seventh-place finish. Western State captured the team title, defeating Adams State by three points.
 
Colorado College is idle for three weeks before defending its title at the SCAC Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31 in McKinney, Texas.  
 
 
Team Results
1. WESTERN STATE 43
2. ADAMS STATE 46
3. FORT HAYS ST. 111
4. CSU-PUEBLO 135
5. FORT LEWIS 142
6. PITTSBURG ST. 152
7. COLORADO COLLEGE 186
8. COLO. CHRISTIAN 198
9. METRO STATE 208
10. EAST CENTRAL 271
11. NEWMAN 316
12. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS 335
13. EMPORIA ST. 364
 
CC Individual Results (5k)
Place.  Name – Pts. -- Time
10. LEAH WESSLER -- 10 -- 18:27.4
43. LEAH VELDHUISEN – 37 -- 19:21.8
46. STEFANI MESSICK -- 40 -- 19:25.5
51. KATIE SANDFORT -- 45 -- 19:35.3
62. PATTY ATKINSON -- 54 -- 19:48.4
63. ALLISON CRIMMINS -- 55 -- 19:48.5
64. COREY LUNA  -- 56 -- 19:48.9
74. KATE MATLIN – n/a -- 20:15.9
97. DURANYA FREEMAN – n/a -- 21:17.0