In a true team effort, Rose-Hulman captured second place in the HCAC Championships.

FRANKLIN, IND. – Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology recorded its best women's cross country conference performance ever to place second in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships at Franklin College on Saturday.

The Engineers relied on finishes of 3rd, 9th and 17th to finish second in the league, topping its previous best Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference performance of seventh.

Junior Rachel Krasich (Westfield) finished third individually to lead the effort.  Krasich ran a six-kilometer time of 24:17 on a slippery course for her second career all-conference performance.

Senior Mandy Hecker (Georgetown/North Harrison) joined Krasich on the all-conference team with a ninth place finish in a time of 24:50.  The effort marks the first time in Rose-Hulman women's cross country history that the Engineers earned two all-conference honors in the same season.

"We have a great group of competitive young ladies, and they proved that in tough conditions today.  We continue to compete at a high level.  I'm very pleased that Rachel and Mandy earned well deserved all-conference recognition," said Rose-Hulman head coach Larry Cole.

Freshman Melissa Rogers (Crawfordsville/Southmont) came home 17th overall and third among freshmen with a time of 25:23.  Freshman Amanda Lundahl (Lake Forest, Ill.) added 23rd place honors in a time of 26:02, while junior Luisa Fairfax (Falls Church, Va./George Mason) rounded out the team score with a 27th in 26:13.

Rose-Hulman's top seven runners will compete at the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Regional at Hanover on Nov. 11.

TEAM RESULTS: 1) Anderson 23; 2) Rose-Hulman 75; 3) Franklin 87; 4) Hanover 92; 5) Manchester 96; 6) Bluffton 194; 7) Transylvania 225; 8) Defiance 228; 9) Mt. St. Joseph 238

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:  3) Rachel Krasich 24:17; 9) Mandy Hecker 24:50; 17) Melissa Rogers 25:23; 23) Amanda Lundahl 26:02; 27) Luisa Fairfax 26:13; 29) Alissa Bishel 26:28; 30) Jill DeClerck 26:31; 44) Corrie Campbell 27:53; 49) Katy Evert 28:19; 50) Mariah Walton 28:31; 58) Erin O'Connor 29:06