The women's cross country team proved last weekend that it had the ability to go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the country. The Judges finished 10th out of 22 teams at the 40th annual University of Albany Cross Country Invitational, topping six of 13 Division I schools at the meet in the 5,000-meter race.The team also placed third out of seven Division III schools at the competition, placing ahead of a nationally ranked opponent for the first time this season, edging 12th-place St. Lawrence University, No. 32 Division III program.

The Judges finished behind Middlebury College and The College of New Jersey, the fifth and 10th-ranked Division III teams in the nation respectively.

"We made a big jump this year to beat a nationally ranked team," coach John Evans said.

"We're not picking easy tournaments. To be competitive is a big step for us."

"[Our performance] showed the potential we have for the rest of the season," captain Megan Bisceglia '07 said. "It's a good stepping stone."

Meanwhile, the men's team was given the week off, forgoing the trip to New York.

"[The men's team] had been training really hard and ran well at the New England Championships," Evans said of the Oct. 7 event.

"I decided they needed an easy week."

Five of the Judges' seven runners finished among the top 85 at the meet, led by Bisceglia's time of 18:48. Bisceglia finished 31st out of 196, eclipsing her personal record by almost five seconds, while coming in ahead of dozens of Division I runners.

"[Bisceglia] has had a great season," Evans said.

"She's beaten top-level runners [and] is one of the top runners in New England.

Katy Agule '08 set a personal record as well, finishing 66th with a time of 19:26. Camille Stevens-Rumann '07, Emily Terrin '08 and Mary Schillinger '07 followed in 71st, 75th and 85th respectively to round out the Judges' top five.

The top five runners had a collective time of 97:10. Rebecca Happnie '09, in 108th and Rebecca Hughes '08, in 133rd turned in respectable performances as well.

"We're proud of ourselves," Agule said. "We're running strong and coming together as a team."

Evans said he expects placing ahead of St. Lawrence will be enough to earn the team a national ranking. Heading into the Albany tournament, the Judges were within striking distance of joining the nation's top 35 teams.

This was the Judges' last competition before they compete in the University Athletic Association Championships in St. Louis, a pivotal conference tournament for the men's and women's teams Oct. 28. The UAA includes three of the nation's top 35 teams, including third-ranked Washington University in St. Louis.