CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Messiah women's cross country team placed third out of 19 teams in the DeSales University Invitational (6K) at DeSales University on Saturday morning. Leading the way for Messiah was Ali Schutte, recording a team-best finish of 24:09. The Falcons recorded a total of 128 team points, as Kate Prothero (24:35) and Chloe Wester (24:36) each recorded notable times as well.
 
Schutte's 6K time today was a season-high mark, beating her previous-best time by just two seconds. The performance was the 14th-best out of a total of 179 runners. For the Falcons, placing behind Schutte was Prothero, who turned in her second-best 6K time of the season. Wester and Laura Tan each turned in strong performances, with Wester placing 25th and Tan placing 26th with a season-best time of 24:37.
 
Of the runners that competed for Messiah, many turned in season-best performances. In total, an impressive 13 Falcons placed in the top 65 runners. Messiah runners who placed in the top 65 and recorded new season-best 6K marks included Connor Coggins (25:12), Cassidy Chandler (25:16), Amber Swaisgood (25:18), Sarah Bath (25:38), Hannah Steckbeck (25:50), and Jillian Brotherton (25:52).
 
The Falcons, competing against a strong field of competition, turned in another strong performance. With another top-three team finish and several individual season-best results, Messiah is primed for next week's competition.
 
What's Next Up
Messiah will be back in action next Saturday, Oct. 16, when it competes in the Aubrey Shenk Invitational (6K) at Gettysburg College at 11:00 a.m