BELLES 2007

In three of the last four years Saint Mary’s has improved their year-end results in the league standings. Strengthened by a host of returning runners, the Belles Cross Country squad is looking to complete the season among the upper half of the MIAA for the first time in school history. Last season they earned a school best fifth place finished.

“With the way things have progressed over the past few seasons, I believe that finishing among the top four schools in the league is very attainable. We don’t want to stay satisfied with where we are. We want to improve.” third year head coach Jackie Bauters said.

Leading the charge this season will be senior Megan Gray. Last season the native of New Carlisle, Ind. became the first Saint Mary’s runner to compete at the NCAA Division III National Championship. In addition she earned First-Team All-MIAA honors which was also a first for a Belles harrier. She was the top runner for Saint Mary’s in all nine races she ran in, including taking top individual honors at the Manchester Invitational.

“There is no doubt that Megan sets the tone for the team. She is a team leader both on and off the race course. Megan is solid each race and the squad will respond to her positive energy,” Bauters said.

Megan McClowery was Saint Mary’s top freshman harrier last season. She was a top scorer in each race last season and never finished outside of the squad’s top five finishers. Kelly Biedron was among the top finishers for the Belles in every race she participated in during the 2006 season.

“Both Megan and Kelly pushed themselves as the season progressed last year,” Bauters said. “They will be looked to do the same again in 2007 if this team wants to get to another level.”

A host of other runners will need to step into spot that were vacated by the graduation of All-MIAA runner Sara Otto and Katie White. Look for Caitlin Stevenson, Alicen Miller and Emily Graf to potentially fill those voids left by graduation.

“I have a lot of optimism for the upcoming season. We are an experienced squad that knows what it takes to be successful. Our goal is to finish among the best in this league and we believe we can do that,” Bauters said.