Tatnall runners 14th at Nike Cross Nationals

THE NEWS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 6, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Wilmington XC girls cross country team -- composed of members of the Tatnall School squad -- placed 14th Saturday in the Nike Cross Nationals girls championship race.

Sophomore Haley Pierce finished seventh in 17:59 on the 5k course. Catherine Flood of Des Moines (Iowa) XC won in 17:42.

Pierce had the best individual finish by a Delaware runner since the event started in 2004. The team qualified for nationals for the fourth straight year this year after winning the NXN Southeast Regional on Nov. 28. The club placed third in 2008, when Pierce was 53rd in 18:46 on the same course. Also running Saturday were Reagan Anderson (19:05), Molly Parsons (19:30), Rebecca Salter (20:05), Lauren Blackwell (20:58), Allison Calvarese (21:38) and Carly Simmons (22:22).

Archmere Academy senior Ryan Lee qualified for Saturday's boys national championship as an at-large individual and posted a 16:23, placing 112th out of 199. Six-tenths of a second separated the top three finishers. Craig Lutz, a junior out of Marcus High (Texas) also running unattached, won in 15:09.2.