PEORIA, Ill. — The Wisconsin women's cross country team had another dominant showing, winning the Bradley Intercollegiate with a perfect score of 15 points on Friday. The Badgers claimed the top-12 spots in the three-mile race behind individual champion Lucinda Crouch.
 
Senior Lucinda Crouch and junior Shea Ruhly worked closely together to lead the pack before Crouch had a breakaway over the last 500 meters to win the race in 16 minutes, 21.5 seconds. Ruhly finished less than two seconds back in 16:23.3 for second place.  Less than 12 seconds separated the Badger scorers as Sarah Shulze (16:29.5), Madison Mooney (16:31.6), and Victoria Heiligenthal (16:33.3) completed the perfect score for Wisconsin with their third, fourth, and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
 
The next four Badgers finished within 13 seconds of each other. Samantha Stieve took sixth in 16:37.5 followed by Emma Watcke (16:39.3), Peyton Sippy (16:45.5), and Danielle Orie (16:51.0) finished seventh through ninth respectively.

Ellen Van Doorn (17:02.1), Erinn Hill (17:07.4) and Kate Jortberg (17:17.2) rounded out the top 12 for Wisconsin.

Straight from the Course

Head Coach Mackenzie Wartenberger
"They were in charge of the race from the first mile and they ran together as a pack really well. Lucinda  (Crouch) and Shea (Ruhly) were together until the last 500 meters and then Lucinda put on the gusto. This race is just another step in the right direction for this group.

"Lucinda has had to dig really deep over the last year coming back from injury. She has worked in a way that I have never seen her work and it shows. Her confidence is high and she is emerging as a leader in our program and I think the sky's the limit."

Up Next:

The Badgers return to action in two weeks when they travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Louisville Classic on Oct. 2.
 
Bradley Intercollegiate
Sept. 17, 2021
Detweiller Park, Peoria, Ill.
3 Miles

Team Scores
1. Wisconsin - 15
2. Bradley - 58
3. Western Illinois - 78
4. Heartland CC - 118
5. Monmouth (Ill.) - 137
6. McKendree - 166
7. Cornell College - 177
8. Dubuque - 235
9. Carl Sandburg College - 257
 
Individual Results
1. Lucinda Crouch, Wis. - 16:21.5
2. Shea Ruhly, Wis - 16:23.3
3. Sarah Shulze, Wis. - 16:29.5
4. Madison Mooney, Wis - 16:31.6
5. Victoria Heiligenthal, Wis. - 16:33.3
6. Samantha Stieve, Wis. - 16:37.5
7. Emma Watcke, Wis. - 16:39.3
8. Peyton Sippy, Wis. - 16:45.5
9. Danielle Orie, Wis. - 16:51.0
10. Ellen Van Doorn, Wis. - 17:02.1
11. Erinn Hill, Wis. - 17:07.4
12. Kate Jortberg, Wis. - 17:17.2