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Led by all-conference performances from Annie Cekada and Kelsey Stief, the Wilmington College women finished fifth in the Ohio Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship, contested on the WC cross country course Saturday morning.

Wilmington finished with 133 team points. Baldwin-Wallace won the team title with 37 points.

“Our ideal day was top 5 team and two girls on the all-conference team, and we did it,” Wilmington head coach Ron Combs said. “They handled the conditions that were thrown at them. We had some girls really step up huge. Brittany Gibbons had a monster performance.”

Cekada (Mineral Point, Pa./Central Cambria) went to the front of the pack early and stayed there, finishing fourth overall in 22:13.

“I feel good about the race. There are some very good runners in the conference, and I think they liked being pushed,” Cekada said.

Stief (Upper Sandusky) hit the line in 23:22 to finish 15th overall.

“I was 73rd my freshman year and 40th last year,” Stief said. “I think I am just a stronger runner now and I have a lot more self confidence. I also had a lot of support out there on the course today.”

Karlee Michel (Alexandria/Johnstown-Monroe) finished 38th in 24:17. Anna Foote (Pleasant Plain/Goshen) was 44th in 24:28. Gibbons (Blanchester) finished 50th in 24:49. Hannah Wolfe (Circleville/Logan Elm) was 51st, finishing in 24:54. Colleen Foote (Pleasant Plain/Goshen) finished 53rd in 24:59.

The Quakers will compete in the Great Lakes Regional, hosted by Rose-Hulman on Nov. 14. Combs said Cekada has a legitimate shot at qualifying for the NCAA Championship, which will be hosted by Baldwin-Wallace Nov. 21.

“I think she can do it,” Combs said. “She’s a front-runner, and that’s what you have to do at the regional meet. She’s got ice in her veins. She’s not afraid of anybody.”