PITTSBURG, Kan. – St. Edward's women's cross country earned a pair of top-10 finishes in the first meet of its inaugural indoor season at the Crimson & Gold Invitational. 
 
"This was a historic moment in our program's history, and I'm so proud this group of women got to be a part of it," St. Edward's head coach Steven Cary says. "We had strong showings but can improve on some things." 
 
Juniors JULIANA MERLO and DELANEY LONG led St. Edward's in the mile, recording top-10 finishes and new personal records. Merlo clocked a 5:07.13 to finish seventh, and Long finished a few minutes later in ninth at 5:13.90. SAMMY SALAZAR (25th, 5:29.72) and BRYN PETERS (50th, 5:50.55). 
 
Long also led three Hilltoppers in the 3,000 meters, placing 27th at 10:45.88.  JORDAN SANDERS clocked an 11:14.36 to finish 39th, and MYLA CASTILLO followed in 41st at 11:27.02
 
"The mid-distance crew did well. Juliana and Delaney both bested their previous PRs, and Delaney had a great double with a big performance in the 3K later," Cary says. "We also got some great efforts from Jordan and Victoria Hoyt in the 5K on Friday night with a huge PR for Victoria." 
 
Sanders placed 28th in the 5K, running an 18:46.08, and Hoyt's PR was 18:50.47, finishing 30th. Castillo and MAGGIE RITTMEYER also competed, clocking 19:08.87 and 20:36.58 to finish 36th and 43rd. 
 
AUDREY WISTAIN and Myosia Virgin produced top-20 finishes in the 60-meter hurdles. Wistain placed 17th at 9.31 and Virgin 20th at 9.33 in her collegiate debut. Mary-Kate Havens rounded out St. Edward's hurdles lineup at 9.94, finishing 43rd. 
 
HAILEY RODRIGUEZ led St. Edward's in the 200 and 400, placing 30th in the 200 at 26.38 and 19th in the 400 at 58.38.
 
St. Edward's fielded a deep roster in the 200, getting contributions from YAMILA CARTWRIGHT (35th, 26.47), JASMINE COOKE (39th, 26.73), Bre'Asia Veal (44th, 26.89), Havens (53rd, 27.34), Wistain (55th, 27.40), and Virgin (57th, 27.78). Cartwright joined Rodriguez in the 400, running 1:00.23 to place 38th. 
 
"I'm proud of the way Hailey ran today. She's gritty every time she steps on the track," Cary says. "Audrey and Myosia both had big performances in the hurdles, setting the tone for the season." 
 
In the 60, Cooke finished 53rd at 8.07, followed by Matilde Lameiras in 75th at 8.23, and Veal in 76th at 8.23. MEGAN FERRELL and BRYN PETERS represented St. Edward's in the 800, placing 28th at 2:40.21 and 29th at 2:40.95.
 
"We need to continue keeping a good mindset through the ebb and flow of meets, but I'm confident we'll improve on that moving forward," Cary says. "This is a resilient group, and I'm looking forward to building on this for the rest of the season."