Columbia, Mo. - The Central Methodist Women's Cross Country team continued regular season competition at the Brian Simpson Invitational Saturday morning in Columbia, Mo. 

There were 16 different teams represented by a number of NAIA and NCAA Division II programs along with a junior college and running club. Altogether there were 164 runners competing.  

As a team, Central posted an eighth place finish with 249 total points. St. Mary (Kan.) won the event with 22 points, followed by Southwest Baptist (67) and Kansas Wesleyan (84). 

Freshman Tara Ozinga led the CMU pack, finishing 17th in the 5K with a time of 18:56.56. The finish was also good enough to land in the Top 20 of all-time fastest times in program history at No. 11. 

Ella Strehlow followed with a time of 20:24.58 to finish 54th and then Ali Gutierrez at 20:28.08 to place 57th. Morgan Waltmire (84th - 21:12.94), and Molly Milazzo (103rd - 21:58.43). 

Sadie Burchett (107th - 22:06.60), Cynthia Resor (140th - 23:26.16), and Madison Horn (141st - 23:37.06) also ran for the Eagles. 

Central will run their final regular season race at the NAIA Blazing Tiger Classic Saturday, Oct. 26 in Ashland, Nebraska. 

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