MADISON, Wis. – The No. 7 ranked Wisconsin women's cross country team placed sixth at the 2018 Wisconsin Pre-Nationals meet at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday.
 
Four Badgers finished within a half second of each other in the premier meet that featured more than 70 teams and 19 ranked teams. 
 
"Today was all about preparation for the Big Ten Championship and beyond. We focused on running together, in packs, for each other and controlled the effort a bit," women's head coach Jill Miller said.
 
Shaelyn Sorensen, the fifth-year senior out of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, was the first runner to cross the finish line for Wisconsin, finishing in 32nd place with a time of 20 minutes, 57.6 seconds for the 6K.
 
Following behind Sorensen was junior Alicia Monson, with a time of 20:57.7. Monson is coming off of a win at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Presented by Under Armour.
 
Next to cross the finish line were Amy Davis and Alissa Niggemann. Davis had a time of 20 minutes, 57.7 seconds. The Madison native took 34th place on the day and third for the team. Niggemann, a redshirt-sophomore from Amherst, Wisconsin, finished just behind Davis with a time of 20:57.8.
 
Lucinda Crouch, a true freshman, was impressive once again for Wisconsin. She finished in 65th place with a time of 21 minutes and 26.6 seconds after sitting in 135th after four kilometers.
 
"I like the effort that we put out there today and it was fun to see and control Lucinda and seeing what her footspeed can do over the last two kilometers of the race," Miller said.
 
Rachel Werking took 157th in the race consisting of 36 teams. She finished with a time of 22 minute, 21.6 seconds.

New Mexico won the women's "White" race with 67 points as Weini Kelati and Ednah Kurgat went 1-2 for the Lobos. 

In the "Cardinal" race, Oregon's Jessica Hull won the individual title in 20:03.17 while Arkansas claimed the team crown. 
 
Up Next:
The Badgers will turn their focus towards championship racing as UW will compete at the 2018 Big Ten Cross Country Championships, October 28, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
 
"We are very excited for the Big Ten championship but the key is to not be too excited and stick to what we know and to train the way we have been the entire year," Miller said. "We've got a great team and the challenge is now, can we become an elite team?"
 
2018 Wisconsin Pre-Nationals White Race Results:
Team Scores:

1. New Mexico – 67
2. Michigan – 120
3. Stanford – 129
4. Notre Dame – 172
5. Washington – 199
6. Wisconsin – 199 

Wisconsin Scores:

1. (32) Shaelyn Sorensen – 20.57.6
2. (33) Alicia Monson – 20.57.7
3. (34) Amy Davis – 20:57.8
4. (35) Alissa Niggemann – 20:57.9
5. (65) Lucinda Crouch – 21:26.6