KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Even without some of its top runners on Saturday morning, the No. 8 Shippensburg University women's cross country team navigated through the mud to earn a victory at Kutztown's Division II Challenge over Lock Haven and the hosts.

SU had four runners finish among the Top 10 runners. Senior Neely Spence won the race in 21:42 while junior Katie Spratford finished second in 22:45. Another senior, Jamie McCollum, took sixth in 24:20 while sophomore Emma Shank was ninth in 24:34.

Freshman Katy Perry was SU's No. 5 runner at Saturday's meet with a time of 24:49. Fellow freshman April Schlusser and sophomore Allison Constant both crossed the line in 25:05.

Shippensburg will hit the ground running in two weeks at the prestigious Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University.

Shippensburg (1st, 31 points)
1. Neely Spence (21:42)
2. Katie Spratford (22:45)
6. Jamie McCollum (24:20)
9. Emma Shank (24:34)
13. Katy Perry (24:49)
16. April Schlusser (25:05)
17. Allison Constant (25:05)
21. Katie Wiechelt (25:17)
22. Ashley Fornshell (25:20)
29. Heather Weiss (25:45)
31. Mackenzie Riford (25:59)
32. Alicia O'Donel (26:01)
39. Laura Antinucci (26:27)
50. Allie Flott (27:42)