HANOVER, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Rachel Krasich (Westfield) recorded a third-place finish to lead Rose-Hulman to a fifth-place effort at the Hanover Women's Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.

Krasich placed third of 110 runners from 10 institutions by completing the five-kilometer course in 19:36.  Hanover will host both the 2007 HCAC Championships and the 2008 NCAA Division III National Championships on the same course.

The Engineers missed third place in the competitive meet by just two points.  Franklin earned third with 132 points, followed by Juniata at 133 and Rose-Hulman at 134.

Sophomore Melissa Rogers (Crawfordsville/ Southmont) bolstered the team effort with a 16th place in 20:23, the sixth-best time in school history.  Senior Susan Nickol (Solon, Ohio/Beaumont School) also finished 27th place in 21:00 to tally the 10th best time in program history.

Other runners rounding out the team score included junior Alissa Bishel (Chesterton) with a 47th place in 21:56 and senior Jill DeClerck (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd) with a 52nd in 22:10.

Rose-Hulman returns to action at the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet on Friday at Purdue University.

MEET RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1) Baldwin-Wallace 43; 2) Ohio Northern 89; 3) Franklin 132; 4) Juniata 133; 5) Rose-Hulman 134; 6) Hanover 136; 7) Manchester 145; 8) Bellarmine 152; 9) Marian 189; 10) Transylvania 320

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 3) Rachel Krasich 19:36; 16) Melissa Rogers 20:23; 27) Susan Nickol 21:00; 47) Alissa Bishel 21:56; 19) Susan Nickol 21:24; 52) Jill DeClerck 22:10; 64) Amanda Lundahl 22:48; 66) Katherine Quigg 22:51; 80) Corrie Campbell 23:37; 82) Mariah Walton 23:47; 89) Katy Evert, 24:04