Upland, Ind. - The Marian women's cross country team began their 2023 season on Friday night, competing in Taylor University's annual Ray Bullock Invite. The Knights finished fifth as a team in their season debut, with senior Liz Loichinger leading the team with a top-25 finish.

Taylor won their own meet, placing with a team score of 19 as they claimed the top four runners in the 6K race.. St. Francis (Ill.) finished second place in the meet, with Grace and Goshen behind the Fighting Saints. Marian finished fifth with a team score of 141, beating out Michigan-Dearborn, Spring Arbor, and Huntington. 

Marian's leading runner in the event was senior Liz Loichinger, who finished 21st overall with a time of 23:55.8 to lead the team. Freshmen Brooke Trinkle and Rosie Barrett were the next two Knights to cross the line, with Trinkle finishing 28th and Barrett in 39th. The rookies completed the race in a time of 24:24 and 24:54, respectively. Lindsay Huston finished 44th overall in the race with a time of 25:07, and Nora Steele completed the top-five for the Knights with her time of 25:10, finishing 46th overall. Luci Woodrum and Josie Feldman would complete the runners factoring into Marian's team score, with Woodrum placing 50th and Feldman placing 53rd. 

Marian's eighth runner to cross the line was Lainey Roth with a finishing time of 26:17, hitting the line 30 seconds in front of teammate Emily Baker. Emma Beimfohr placed 70th overall with a 26:51 time, and Katie Woods finishing with a time of 26:55. Marian's final three runners in the field to cross the line were Sabrina Siems, Marion Davis, and Kiley Breedon. 

With the Knights opening race of the season in the books, they will now turn to their next action on September 30, as the team runs in the annual Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic.

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