CRETE, Neb. -- Freshman Lorena Ramirez was the top Bruin runner Saturday morning, as the Bellevue University women's cross country team competed in the Dean White Invitational hosted by Doane University.
Due to injuries, the Bruins had just three individuals competing in the meet, which was won by Dordt College. The Defenders had four runners in the top 15, finishing with a team score of 56. Hastings College finished in second with three runners in the top 10, finishing 10 points back with 66 points.
Ramirez placed 66th in the 154-runner field with a 5K time of 21:56.8. Dayana Montano-Salama finished in 141st, coming in at 26:21.7. Diana Montano-Salama placed 152nd with a time of 28:59.3.
The trio of Bruins averaged one-minute improvements over the 5K course from last weekend's meet in Hastings.
Hastings' Heidi Hennings won the overall individual title for the second-consecutive week, finishing in a time of 18:45.
"I said it last week and I will repeat myself by saying I couldn't be more pleased with the improvement I saw today out of every single Bruin runner," said Bruin Head Coach Craig Christians. "We suffered through a very tough (hot) week of practice, even running hard on the two days leading up to the meet, and they still came through. Despite the conditions, they come to practice every day ready to go to work and that is what I love about this team. If we can maintain that attitude, we cannot help but improve."
The Bruins will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 29, when they travel to Wayne, Neb. to participate in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Wayne State College. The women's portion of the race will begin at 9:30 a.m.
