CLINTON, Pa. – Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) earned a fifth-place individual finish to lead the Northern Illinois University women's cross country team to fifth in the team standings at the Horizon League Championship at Youthtowne Fields on Saturday (Oct. 31). 

"Today didn't go the way we planned," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "We were prepared to be a top three team. We had some positives from our top two individuals, but your one through five have to have a good day and today was just not our day as a collective team performance."

Ojeda ran a time of 20:55.23, breaking the 21-minute mark for the first time in her collegiate career, while Sarah Maggio (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) also recorded a top 15 finish as she ran 21:41.23 to claim 12th.

"One this course that is a good time," Carrillo said of Ojeda's sub 21-minute mark. "I think she is happy, I'm happy with that performance. The more she gets exposed to championships, the more experience she is going to gain for the future."

Emerson Fabry (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski) was NIU's third finisher, crossing the line in a time of 22:33.15 to take 39th. Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) also finished in under 23 minutes, running 22:58.78. 

Sofia Pena (Jalisco, Mexico) ran 23:07.77, Ella Spencer (Wiltshire, England) clocked in a time of 24:12.37 while Isabella Grieder (Groveland, Ill./Morton) finished in 25:45.82.

Host Robert Morris narrowly claimed the team title, scoring 32 points to just edge second-place Youngstown State, who scored 33. Robert Morris' Julia Dill earned the individual crown with a time of 20:19.98.

NIU will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa. 

Team Standings
1. Robert Morris, 32
2. Youngstown State, 33
3. Oakland, 134
4. Purdue Fort Wayne, 139
5. NIU, 168
6. Northern Kentucky, 181
7. Detroit Mercy, 186
8. IU Indy, 187
9. Wright State, 203
10. Green Bay, 225
11. Milwaukee, 284
12. Cleveland State, 324

NIU Individuals
5. Amelie Ojeda, 20:55.23
12. Sarah Maggio, 21:41.23
39. Emerson Fabry, 22:33.15
60. Claire Helmila, 22:58.78
64. Sofia Pena, 23:07.77
97. Ella Spencer, 24:12.37
117. Isabella Grieder, 25:45.82