St. Olaf College Athletics

Team members: Janet Ensrud, Mary Jordan, Laurel Lamont, Kathleen Miller, Sarah Nelson, Leslie Seymour, Eilzabeth Stronge

The 1979 St. Olaf women's cross country team won the Midwest Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) state championship, was the runner-up at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Region VI Championships, and was the national runner-up at the AIAW Division III National Championships, while competing against programs from all NCAA Divisions before they were formed.

Under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Chris Daymont, St. Olaf won the state title by 18 points behind a 1-2 finish from Beth Stronge and Leslie Seymour and had eight of the top-13 individual finishers. Led by a first-place finish from Stronge, the Oles had three of the top-four individuals and finished just one point behind Central College at the regional meet and went on to place second to Cal. State-Hayward at the AIAW Division III Championships with three individuals in the top eight.