ST. PAUL, Minn. – Competing without its top contingent of runners, the No. 17-ranked St. Olaf College women's cross country team placed sixth at the eight-team Hamline Invitational on Friday evening at Highland Golf Course.

Running at the site of this year's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Cross Country Championships, St. Olaf opted to not race its top group at the meet, which No. 21-ranked Carleton College won with a total of 19 points thanks to a 1-3-4-5-6 finish. The Oles totaled 140 points to sit between Bethel University (121 pts.) and Hamline University (185 pts.) in the standings.

Sophomore Willemijn Leiner was the first Ole to cross the finish line in 24th place (24:20.9), followed closely by junior Kathleen Madden in 25th (24:22.5). Junior Siri Erickson was also in the top 30 in 28th (24:26.3), while senior Shannon Breuer and junior Nora Mickelson were 32nd (24:45.9) and 33rd (24:47.5), respectively, to round out St. Olaf's five scorers.

St. Olaf will host the St. Olaf Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m.