SALEM, VA – The Catholic women's cross country team competed in the NCAA South Region Championships and placed fourth overall, flying by their pre-race ranking of seventh. 

Landmark Rookie of the Year, Olivia Sobkowicz, finished fourth overall with a personal-best 6k time of 21:56.2. With this new personal best, freshman Sobkowicz enters the Catholic record books as the second-best 6k runner in program history.

Junior Laurel McMahon earned herself a 6k personal-best of 22:15.4 with her 13th place finish. McMahon enters the record books as the third-best 6k runner in program history. 

Alexa Grassi, a junior, placed 42nd overall and was the third Cardinal to finish with a time of 23:36.50.

Freshman Bridgid Cavanaugh raced a time of 24:13.30 which placed her 55th overall as the 4th place finisher for Catholic. Catherine Lorrelle, a sophomore, rounded out the top Cardinal finishers in 64th place with her own personal-best time of 24:26.4.

Senior Mia LaMarra placed 98th overall with a time of 25:43.0 with teammate Erin Roche finishing close behind in 101st with a time of 25:49.4.

With their fourth place finish, the Cardinals tie their program record for the highest finish at the NCAA Regional meet since 1991. This is the second time in the last three years that the Cardinal women have achieved this feat. 

Up next, unofficially, Olivia Sobkowicz and Laurel McMahon will be traveling to compete in the Division III Cross Country Championships on the Roger Millikin Cross Country Course in Spartanburg, SC hosted by Converse College on Saturday, November 22nd at 11 AM. This will be the first time in program history that Catholic has had multiple individuals qualify for the Cross Country National Championships in the same year.