It was a fine conclusion to a fine career, the finest, in fact, that any Wittenberg female cross country runner has ever put together.
Senior Abi Gerstle (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) finished 54th in the NCAA Division III National Championship meet last weekend at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. She ran the course in a time of 22:49, and she moved up more than 30 spots from last year.
This is the third consecutive year in which Gerstle qualified for the national meet, adding to her long list of accomplishments. Gerstle was the first Wittenberg female to make the national meet when she advanced in 2000, the first Tiger runner to make it two times when she qualified in 2001 and, of course, broke new ground when she advanced to this weekend's meet at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
In addition, Gerstle was the first Wittenberg runner, male of female, to capture first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference in 2001. She repeated that feat this year.
Women's Cross Country At NCAA Division III National Championship
Posted: Nov 23, 2002