Youthful Storm take sixth at A-R-C Championship

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The trio of Kaitlyn Murano, Audrey Klein, and Shelby Hunemiller finished within six seconds of each other, leading the Simpson women's cross country team to a sixth-place finish at the American Rivers Conference Championship hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday.

The Storm finished with 179 points, ahead of Buena Vista, Dubuque, and Coe. Of Simpson's top-seven finishers, four are freshmen or sophomores.

Murano, a freshman, led Simpson for the first time this season, navigating the 8k course in 25:29 to finish 38th in the field of 134 runners.

Klein finished only three seconds behind Murano, placing 42nd in 25:32.6. Hunemiller followed them up a few seconds later, finishing 45th with a time of 25:35.2.

Ashlee Litterer placed 50th (25:57.7), Emily Buchheit 55th (26:12.8) and Mackenzie Laughlin 63rd (26:24.7). Kyli Orr rounded out the top seven finishers for the Storm, placing 68th with a time of 26:39.4.

Storm Varsity Finishers
Kaitlyn Murano — 38th, 25:29.0
Audrey Klein— 42nd, 25:32.6
Shelby Hunemiller— 45th, 25:35.2
Ashlee Litterer — 50th, 25:57.7
Emily Buchheit — 55th, 26:12.8
Mackenzie Laughlin— 63rd, 26:24.7
Kyli Orr — 68th, 26:39.4

Up Next
Simpson will compete in the NCAA Central Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Waverly, Iowa.