The Loras College women's cross country team finished 8^th of 31 teams at the National Catholic Championships on Friday, September 18 in South Bend, Indiana. The meet, annually hosted by the University of Notre Dame, features schools from NCAA Division I, II, and the NAIA levels.

The duo of junior Tara Kilburg and senior Hannah Weiss led Loras to the finish line, just one second apart on the 5K course. Kilburg posted a 19:29 and Weiss followed at 19:30, good for 41^st and 42^nd in the 240 runner field. The remainder of the scoring Loras lineup included senior Erica Stevens (20:03), junior Meghan Wolett (20:08), and freshman Ashley Schoenoff (20:14). The Duhawks also turned in solid times at their number six and seven spots with sophomore Genna Kinley (20:16) and freshman Maria Kalb (20:14).

The varsity team will be off until October 10 when they travel to Waverly, Iowa - the site of the 2009 Iowa Conference Championships - to complete in Wartburg's regular season Invitational. Loras hosts their annual event, the Dr. Robert Tucker Invitational, on October 16.