St. Olaf College Athletics

Team members: Mary Emond, Janet Ensrud, Linda Kinkel, Laurel Lamont, Sarah Nelson, Leslie Seymour, Eilzabeth Stronge

The 1980 St. Olaf women's cross country team won the Midwest Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) state championship and the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Region VI Championships before finishing as 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 edged St. Thomas by one point for the team title after Strong, Janet Ensrud, and Seymour all placed in the top four. At the regional meet, the Oles finished three points ahead of the Tommies behind three top-five performances that included a regional title by Seymour. St. Olaf posted its second consecutive second-place national finish, with Stronge, Seymour, and Ensrud all in the top eight.