ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Gannon women's cross country got some valuable experience against talented competition on Saturday at the Lewis Crossover at Lewis University.
 
Many premier teams from NCAA Division II ran in the championship race as 36 teams and 332 runners competed.
 
Gannon's lone runner in the championship race was freshman Emily Bowers (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek), who finished the Lewis University 6K course in 24:02.61 to place 228th among the tough field. Gannon's other top freshman, Alexis Abbett (Sharpsburg, Pa./Aquinas Academy), did not compete on Saturday.
 
In the open race, Gannon entered nine runners, led by senior Elissa Scheel (Medina, Ohio/Highland), who placed 26th among a field of 102 with a time of 25:04.37. Sophomore Megan Ickes (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) finished 66th in 26:22.13and junior Jessica McCracken (Limestone, Pa./Clarion-Limestone Area) was 70th in 26:32.91.
 
Gannon placed 11th among 13 teams in the open race.
 
 
What's ahead:

Gannon will compete in the PSAC Championships on Oct. 26 in Kutztown, Pa.
 
 
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE, 6K
Top 3 teams
(36-team field; Gannon did not compete as a team)
1. Colorado School of Mines 69
2. Lewis 114
3. Grand Valley State 157
 
 Top 3 finishers
(332-runner field)
1. Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge 20:38.46
2. Kendall Kramer, Alaska 20:49.75
3. Klaudia O'Malley 20:53.75
 
Gannon runner
(332-runner field)
228. Emily Bowers (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek) 24:02.61

 
OPEN RACE, 6K
Top 3 teams
(13-team field)
1. Lewis 73
2. Ursuline 83
3. Maryville 84
11. Gannon 279
 
Top 3 runners
(102-runner field)
1. Katie Mezler, Lewis 23:21.23
2. Alaysia Brooks, Ursuline 23:27.04
3. Mileena Sullivan, Minnesota Duluth 23:30.63 

Gannon runners
26. Elissa Scheel (Medina, Ohio/Highland) 25:04.37
66. Megan Ickes (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) 26:22.13
70. Jessica McCracken (Limestone, Pa./Clarion-Limestone Area) 26:32.91
81. Amy Poole (Walston, Pa./Punxsutawney Area) 27:03.83
90. Doris Tauscher 27:52.87
94. Maggie Mahoney (Erie, Pa./Fairview) 29:43.00
100. Olivia Kosnik 31:34.13
101. Megan Ferber (Erie, Pa./McDowell) 33:42.34
102. Taylor Friello (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) 35:22.50