CHICAGO - The Hawai'i women's cross country team finished 18th at the 32nd Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational, Saturday, in blistering conditions at Montrose Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan. The event marked the farthest east the Rainbow Wahine travelled for a competition in the program's history.

Sophomore Dana Buchanan was the Rainbow Wahine's top finisher, competing the 5K race in 18:11 for 27th place. Fellow sophomore Chantelle Laan came in 66th place with a time of 18:49.

Depaul's Leah Rygh (17:24) edged Heidi Lindeman of Marquette by two seconds for top individual honors. Marquette captured the team title with 79 total points.

More 200 competitors participated in the Gold Division, from 24 Division I and top lower division programs.

"The biggest challenge for our girls was breathing cold air for the first time," associate coach Andy McInnis said. "It was 40 degrees at race time with cold coming off of Lake Michigan."

Other UH runners which qualified for the team score were Danielle Binns (19:19, 101st), Kelly Young (20:00, 140th), and Sharlene Carillo (20:08, 144th). In addition, Heather Scott (20:26, 157th) and Chelsee Pummel (21:13, 183rd) also competed.

"It was cold, our arms were numb and we had a hard time breathing," Young said. "It was a totally different experience than running in Hawai'i."

The Rainbow Wahine return to the islands to prepare for the Hawai'i Pacific Invitational, in Kaneohe, Oahu, and the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 9.

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