The 22nd-ranked Doane women's cross country team opened the 2009 season with a third place finish at the Nike Heartland Pre-Regional Meet in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Saturday morning. The Tigers totaled 97 points while Concordia University, ranked No. 14, won the meet with 29 points. Northern State, an NCAA Division II squad, placed second with 92 points.
The Tigers were led by Lizzie Kolbo's seventh place finish as she posted a time of 19:31.52. Yadira Salazar placed 18th with a time of 19:56.96 and Viviana Arreola finished 24th after notching a time of 20:08.39.
Jess Driewer brought home a 32nd place finish for the Tigers as she ran a time of 20:18.31. Jill Ourada finished 36th with a time of 20:29.84. Alex Conrin ran a time of 20:32.34 to finish 38th for Doane. Aprill Bodlak notched a time of 20:55.38 to placed 47th while Haley Smith ran a time of 21:07.25 to finish 51st.