WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The St. Edward's Hilltoppers women's cross country team continues to improve weekly, getting stellar performances from Mia Rivera, MIA SANCHEZ, and Faith Loftus to finish fourth at the Lone Star Conference Championships. 

It was a giant leap for the women in the conference standings, having finished eighth a year ago and voted to do the same in this year's preseason conference polls. The women completed the six kilometers in a total time of 1:58.25, averaging 23.41. It was a marked improvement from last year's average time of 24:19. 

"I'm so proud of how far the ladies have come. At the beginning of September, finishing in the top four in the conference probably would have seemed like a stretch to many people," St. Edward's head cross country coach Steven Cary says. "But the ladies believed and bought into getting better every week, and many women stepped up and ran well today."

The women were paced by first-year Mia Rivera, who finished ninth with a time of 22:36.8, finishing just fractions of a second off teammate FAITH BROTHERS' record time of 22:36.4 set at last year's NCAA Regionals. It is the best finish for the women's program in its brief Lone Star Conference history. 

"Mia Rivera got out well and stayed up front for an inspiring performance," Cary exclaims. "MIA SANCHEZ had her best race of the season, and Faith Loftus ran well too. SYDNEY SMITH also had a big day, and it was great to have CAROLINE WILDRICK back in the lineup. I'm proud of her effort."

Sanchez ran a career-best 23:31.4, placing 21st just weeks after cracking the 19-minute barrier in a 5K at the DBU Old Glory Gallup. Loftus likewise surpassed her best time, clocking in at 23:48.7 to finish 27th, earning LSC Newcomer of the Year. 

Wildrick and Brothers rounded out the top five for St. Edward's. Wildrick finished just seven seconds off her career-best mark set at last year's conference championships, placing 36th with a time of 24:08.3. Brothers followed in 41st with 24:30.5. 

Smith (24:52.5, 54th), DANIELLE LOZANO (24:58.6, 62nd), Jenna Saunders (25:06.3, 65th), Delaney Long (25:23.7, 72nd), and MAGGIE RITTMEYER (25:37.6, 76th) also competed for St. Edward's. 

"It was a great day for the women, but I know we can do more in two weeks," Cary explains. "I'm looking forward to improving more at region."

St. Edward's will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Washington Park in Denver, Colorado.