EAST LANSING, MICH., NOV. 2, 2003- The Penn State women¡¯s cross country team took third today improving upon last year¡¯s fourth place finish at the Big Ten Championships hosted by Michigan State University.

The No. 10 ranked Michigan Wolverines took home the title for the second year in a row with a total of 31 points. The No. 6 ranked Michigan State Spartans came in second (57) and No. 19 ranked Penn State was third (76). Indiana took fourth (164) and No. 18 ranked Wisconsin was fifth (167).

Michigan¡¯s Rebecca Walter won the race with a time of 20:40.5 and Michigan State¡¯s Michelle Carson was second with a time of 20:49.1. Jesse Allen-Young (Michigan) was third with a time of 20:52.4

Junior Molly Landreth (Newburyport, Mass.) continued to lead the Nittany Lions, as she has done all season, placing fourth and earning first team All-Big Ten honors with a time of 20:55.2. Landreth has already been chosen twice this season as Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Week by the conference and broke a Penn State course record at the Penn State National on Oct. 18.

Sophomore Jenny Stevens (Hookset, N.J.) was the second Nittany Lion across the line finishing tenth in a time of 21:26.4 and earning second All-Big Ten honors.

Junior co-captain Maureen Thomas (Bethlehem, Pa.) came in at 19th rounding out the top 20 for the Nittany Lions with a time of 21:47.9.

The depth of the Penn State cross country team, which has a been a strength all season came into play today with the Nittany Lions taking seven of the top 25 spots, more than any other team in the Championship. Four of those top 25 spots came in a sweep of 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th by Penn State.

Senior Tara Johnson (Glenolden, Pa.) finished 21st in a time of 21:51.2, junior Michelle Wale (Pine Bush, N.Y.) placed 22nd in a time of 21:53.8, junior Chelsea Lenge (West Hartford, Conn.) ran a time of 21:54.4 for 23rd and rounding out the scoring for Penn State was sophomore Tracey Brauksieck (Homer, N.Y.) taking 24th in a time of 21:54.8.

Also competing was junior Kayla Matrunik (Latrobe, Pa.) finishing 33rd in a time of 22:10.7 and senior co-captain Katy Hillard (Turbotville, Pa.) coming in at 59th in a time of 22:48.4.

The No. 19 ranked Nittany Lions are back in action Nov. 15 at the NCAA Region II Championships at Lock Haven. The race is set to start at 12:00 p.m.