GREEN BAY, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh women's cross country team opened its season at the Phoenix Open, hosted by UW-Green Bay on Saturday (Sept. 12). The Titans placed seventh, scoring 142 points.
NCAA Division I University of St. Thomas (Minn.) won the meet with a dominant 28 points, with Olivia Pauly narrowly taking the win over UW-Stevens Point's Faith Wehrman in 22:18.
After All-WIAC Second Team and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region accolades last year,
Lehna Mitchell (Oshkosh/Oshkosh North) led the Titans with a 21st place finish. She completed the course in 23:37.
Behind Mitchell in 23rd place was
Allison VanDerWegen (Kaukauna/Kaukauna), who finished in 23:42.
Jamie Catania (Fond du Lac/Horace Mann) placed 28th, running a 23:53.
Anabel Mitchell (Oshkosh/Oshkosh North) had a career day by finishing with a time of 24:35, her race under the 25 minute mark, and placing 53rd.
Ava Dughetti (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) rounded out the scorers for the Titans, as well as leading the freshman class. She ran 24:40, which was good for 55th place.
Evelyn Karls (Kimberly/Kimberly) made her cross country debut and ran a 24:55 for 62nd place. The seventh Titan was
Ella Kojis (Dousman/Waukesha South), who ran a 25:41 for 82nd.
Breanna Kulpa made her debut for the Titans as a transfer, and she completed the course in 25:55 which was good for 87th place.
Natalie Orbon (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) was the next freshman to cross the line, running 26:34 for 100th place.
Tianna Hayes (Oshkosh/Oshkosh North) ran 26:51 in her debut for 104th place.
A pair of Titan freshman finished back-to-back in their debuts. Kyle Orysen finished in 108th with a time of 27:43, and
Marissa Johnson (Rosendale/Laconia) placed 109th with a time of 27:50.
Molly Duel (Rosendale/Laconia) ran a 28:54 for 118th place.
The Titans return to the course on Friday (Sept. 18) for the UW-Oshkosh Titan Fall Classic at the XC Ranch.
