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Results

WAVERLY, Iowa (Nov. 20, 2010)-- North Central College's Amanda Laesch capped off her collegiate cross country career on Saturday at the NCAA Division III National Championships, placing 15th to earn All-American honors at Wartburg College's Max Cross Country Course.

Laesch sat in the middle of the pack during the beginning of the race before making a move, climbing as high as fifth before finishing the 6,000-meter race 15th in 21:32.8 to earn All-American honors in her third and final appearance at the National Championships. Laesch finished 53rd as a freshman in 2006 before placing 94th in 2009.

"I was very happy today," said Laesch. "Last year I was only running half my mileage and swimming the other half because I was injured. I've come a long way from injuries."

"It was an advantage (having previously run the course on Oct. 9 at Pre-Nationals) the railroad tracks are a little confusing. It felt good knowing where the hill is and where I was going. It's been an amazing experience and a very up and down experience. It seems like a long five years."

Laesch becomes the sixth women's cross country runner in College history to earn All-America accolades and the first since Jessica Griffin and Amber Druien in 2007.

Saint Lawrence University's (N.Y.) Wendy Favius captured the individual title, finishing in 20:49.3 while Middlebury College (Vt.) claimed the team title, outdueling Washington University in Saint Louis 185-193.