EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (Oct. 24, 2009) -- It wouldn't be normal if their regular season ended without mother nature refusing to cooperate. Competing in its last meet of the regular season, Kutztown University women's cross-country team finished second overall in the Nevins Invitational at East Stroudsburg.

With the sky threatening to open on the runners, creating a muddy mess on the 5k course designed on grass and trails, Kutztown's Lindsay Smith (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) finished first for the team, placing 10th overall with a time of 20 minutes 47 seconds.

Following closely behind Smith for 11th and 12th place was Lauren Ayars (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean Township) (20:50) and Lindsey Ray (Barnegat, NJ/Barrnegat) (20:57). Wrapping up the top 20 was Chelsea Ray (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat), who finished in 19th with a time of 21:38. Jessica Frederick (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) placed 35th, with a time of 22:23. The Golden Bears earned 76 points, trailing East Stroudsburg by five points. A total of 90 runners from 14 teams made up the field of competition.

The men's team sat a majority of its runners to rest up for the PSAC Championships next weekend. Matt Reightler (Bethlehem, Pa./Northampton) placed 32nd with a time of 17:57. Also running were Shaun Crump (40th, 18:11) and Jonathan Byrne (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook) (43rd, 18:23).

Both squads return to action next weekend at the PSAC Championship on Saturday Oct. 31 at Edinboro University. The women are ranked second in the Atlantic Region, and 17th nationally, according to the latest rankings released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).