LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The women's cross country program at Shawnee State received two stout runs once again from Olivia Cisco and Jessica Elick, as the duo posted times of 22:10.1 and 23:33.9 at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Ky. Saturday morning to claim 16th and 89th place finishes in a 424-runner field as part of the Women's 6K Blue Race.

In posting their respective times, Cisco and Elick stood tall again against excellent competition -- with Cisco outrunning 65 NCAA Division I runners and finishing higher than 96 percent of the field with her 22:10 in the race itself. Elick, meanwhile, outran 49 NCAA Division I runners while finishing well inside the top quarter of the field -- running faster than 79 percent of the competitors in the 6K event with her 23:33.9.

Shawnee State senior harrier Beth Middleton and Shawnee State freshman Payton McQuirt also finished with strong performances in the meet -- as Middleton ran a three-second personal best to finish in 141st place with a 24:16.1 while McQuirt collected a nine-second personal best, finishing 161st with a 24:25.6. Middleton ran faster than 40 NCAA Division I runners while McQuirt outpaced 35 NCAA D-I athletes.

"Olivia ran strong and showed her consistency once again," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "I'm excited for her over the next few weeks. Beth Middleton and Payton McQuirt also showed their strength and competed well in the large field."

Juniper Allen, who ran a 25:09.2, rounded out Shawnee State's scoring five with a 233rd place finish.

Riley Colestock (292nd, 25:45.1), Sydney Reed (319th, 26:16.1) and Hadlee Cisco (323rd, 26:21.5) rounded out the athletes who competed for Shawnee State in the race.

"I felt Sydney Reed and Hadlee Cisco had encouraging performances for our women's team," Flynn said. "I'm excited to see their progress the rest of the way."

The women's cross country program at Shawnee State will be back in action three weeks from Saturday's race in what will be the final cross country meet of the regular season -- as the Bears take part in the annual NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, which is being held at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, Mich.

For more information on the Shawnee State women's cross country program, follow the Bears on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shawnee_state_xctf/.