LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Northern Arizona University women's cross country team finished in 10th place with a strong showing against one of the best fields in the sport this season at the Pre-Nationals, hosted by the University of Louisville at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park on Saturday.

"We were really excited about coming out with a top ten finish," Assistant Coach Becca DeLoache said. "What's even more exciting was that we just had an overall solid day. It wasn't a lights out performance by any means, but it shows what else we are capable of as we get into the final portion of the season."

"We're really proud of their performance today and they should be really proud too," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith added. "It really shows where they are as a group."

The Lumberjacks placed three runners in the top 83 of the meet, led by Mikayla Malaspina in 27th who beat a personal record by 40 seconds with a time of 20:23.7.

Finishing behind her was Paige Gilchrist in 40th with a 20:36.3 performance. Kylie Goo came in 83rd (21:02.1), Miranda Myers finished in 120th (21:22.1), and Pipi Eitel placed 129th (21:28.2) to round out the NAU scoring attack.

Emily Roughan finished in 160th (21:47.0) while Delaney Rasmussen came in 203rd (22:11.5).

NAU knocked off 34 other teams to finish 10th, including squads from Virginia Tech, Louisville, Ohio State and Duke. The Lumberjacks recorded 387 points as a unit.

"I've been working with this group since January and they have come so far," Smith said. "Some of the things the results can't tell you is their belief, what they think they can do, their willingness, their resilience; I just love seeing them run as a team like they did today because that's what it's all about."

"Something very notable from this performance is where we have come from," DeLoache added. "Last year at Wisconsin's Nuttycombe Invitational, we finished as the second-to-last-team, and now coming here one year later and being a top ten team is huge. It really shows where we came from and where we are headed as a program. We're excited for what's to come."

Oregon won the event with a team score of 63 points. Colorado (91 points), Arkansas (146), Utah State (214) and Michigan (235) made up the top five.

The Lumberjacks return to action with with the running of the Arizona State Invitational on Friday, Oct. 20. NAU has just two races left after ASU's meet; the Big Sky Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 and the NCAA Mountain Regionals on Friday, Nov. 10.

Based on the results of the prior meets, NAU will be looking for a berth in the NCAA National Championships for the first time in over 10 years that takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18.

"We have a Big Sky Championship title to defend and then we have to be ready for the NCAA Mountain Regional meet," Smith concluded. "They know the task at hand and they know the job that needs to get done. They've embraced it and they're excited about it. Looking ahead, we just got to get back to work."