LODI, Calif. - The Saint Mary's Women's Cross Country team placed 5th out of the 11 team West Coast Conference at the WCC Championship. The Gaels were the lone California school to finish in the top-5, behind only 

Junior Kaylee Barnes led the Gaels, finishing 12th overall with a time of 20:30.8. She opened the race in 22nd at the 2K split, jumped to 16th at the 4K mark and finished in 12th. With her 12th place finish, Barnes was named second team All-WCC, earning the second all-conference nod of her career. 

Eleanor Jensen finished in 27th with a time of 21:17.5, jumping seven spots from first split to finish, followed by Klara Frih in 43rd, jumping eight spots throughout the race and finishing with a time of 22:05.8. 

Five spots behind Frih was freshman Luna Mole with a time of 22:09.0. Emily Field rounded out the top five finishers for the Gaels, placing 56th with a time of 22:26.6.

The fifth place finish for the Gaels marks their second top-five finish in as many years. The Gaels had not placed in the top five in back-to-back years since doing it in 2000 and 2001.

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