(photo by Tim O'Dowd '80)

The No. 17 William and Mary women's cross country team continued its impressive 2012 campaign Saturday at the Pre-National Invitational, finishing sixth overall with 266 points and beating five ranked foes.  Florida State, ranked first in the nation, won the race by 15 points over #4 Oregon and the rest of the 38-team field.  Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton from Wichita State won the 6K race in 19:43.9, two seconds ahead of UTEP's Risper Kimaiyo.

For the Tribe, freshman Emily Stites (Wyoming, Ohio) and junior Elaina Balouris (Allison Park, Pa.) finished together for the third race in a row, but this time it was the rookie who crossed the line first in a time of 20:26.1.  Stites was 19th overall, and Balouris was 20th in 20:26.6.  Freshman Meghan McGovern (North Wales, Pa.) and junior Clarissa Schick (Richmond, Va.) also came across the line together, McGovern in 21:16.9 for 71st and Schick 72nd in 21:21.6.  Sophomore Dylan Hassett (Alpharetta, Ga.) completed the team scoring in 21:26.8, with senior Katie Buenaga (Greenville, Del.) in 21:27.9 and sophomore Jess Cygan (Bethlehem, Pa.) in 21:49.4 rounding out the Tribe's effort.

William and Mary is next in action in two weeks, hosting the Colonial Athletic Association Championships for the first time since 2001.  The race will begin at 10 a.m. on October 27, at Eastern State in Williamsburg.

Pre-National Invitational - 6K
Louisville, Ky.

Team Standings
1. #1 Florida State 72
2. #4 Oregon 87
3. #8 Michigan 141
4. #6 Georgetown 163
5. RV Texas 184
6. #17 William and Mary 266

Top Five Individuals
1. Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton (WichSt) 19:43.9
2. Risper Kimaiyo (UTEP) 19:46.0
3. Alexi Pappas (UO) 19:56.9
4. Violah Lagat (FSU) 20:00.6
5. Jordan Hasay (UO) 20:03.4

W&M Individuals
19. Emily Stites 20:26.1
20. Elaina Balouris 20:26.6
71. Meghan McGovern 21:16.9
72. Clarissa Schick 21:21.6
84. Dylan Hassett 21:26.8
86. Katie Buenaga 21:27.9
128. Jess Cygan 21:49.4