BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Cornell women's cross country team continued their fine 2009 season at Lehigh's Paul Short Invitational on Friday afternoon, racing in ideal weather conditions against a nationally competitive field.  Senior captain Stephanie Pancoast's 16th-place finish, in a school record for the 6K course, led the Cornell women to a terrific fifth place showing in the Gold Race.

Overall, the Big Red had another very competitive effort, placing an impressive fifth out of 40 teams with 183 points, trailing only #4 ranked West Virginia, Canadian power Guelph, nationally ranked Indiana, traditional ACC power North Carolina State and ahead of such nationally ranked teams as Wake Forest and Tennessee, as well as Heps rivals Penn and Dartmouth.  Pancoast led the way throughout, going through the mile in 5:29 and steadily working her way up to the lead pack.  She crossed the line in 16th in 20:43, a 47 second personal best on the course and a school record by over 17 seconds.  Freshman Genna Hartung had another outstanding race to place 27th in 21:05 and she was followed closely by classmate Katie Kellner, who was 30th in 21:14 as the two freshmen ran the third and fourth best Cornell times ever on the Paul Short 6K course.  Senior Erin Roberts boasted a 90 second personal best to place to place 53rd in 21:34 while junior Maura Carroll improved 30 seconds from her prior best on the course to place 57th in 21:36 with freshman Kelsey Karys running yet another very good race to place 58th, also in 21:36.  Sophomore Emma Clarke improved over 30 seconds from 2008 with a fine 99th place run of 21:56.  Also competing for Cornell in the championship Gold race was junior Kristin Sellers (119th, 22:05), freshman Cara Costich (120th, 22:05) and sophomore Meghan Brown (147th, 22:18).  The women's Gold Race had 363 finishers.  The Big Red's top five averaged an impressive 21:15 for the 6K course, 22 seconds better than any other previous Cornell team!

In addition to Cornell's efforts in the Gold Championships races, Cornell was well represented in the Open race earlier in the day. Sophomore Shelby Herman led the Cornell contingent across the line, placing sixth in 22:31, a 21 second PR.  Junior Lauren Bariexca continued her fine cross country season, placing seventh in 22:35 after running an assertive race.  Freshman Alyssa O'Connor was 16th in 22:47 in her first-ever collegiate cross country race while sophomore Christine Curtis was 17th, also in 22:47.  Senior Caroline Heidt was 24th in 23:04.  Also competing was junior Alana Levy (26th, 23:08, another big personal best), sophomore Christine Smith (29th, 23:12), sophomore Janel Parker (4th, 23:31), freshman Suzana Markolovic (46th, 23:31), freshman Neesha Schnepf (53rd, 23:37) and sophomore Cathy Harley (58th, 23:44).

Complete results can be found at the following web-sites:
Women's Championship Gold Race:
http://www.paulshortxcrun.com/PaulShort/Results/2009_CW_Gold.html

Women's Open Race:
http://www.paulshortxcrun.com/PaulShort/Results/2009_CW_JV.html

Next up for the Big Red is the Penn State National Invitational on Friday, October 16th.