Spring Valley alumna Kate Niehaus, a sophomore at Stanford University, competed for the Cardinals today, winning their third consecutive 2007 NCAA National Cross Country team championship.
The event, held in Terra Haute, IN, was the first time for Niehaus competing in the meet, an alternate in 2006. Stanford captured the title with 145 points to runner-up Oregon with 177. Florida State was third.
The former Viking finished 89th overall in 21:29.6 over the 6,000-meter course, rounding out the Cardinals' seven.
Ahead of Niehaus was Northwestern alumna Angelina Blackmon. Blackmon, a senior at North Carolina State University, placed 63rd in 21:16.2. The Wolfpack, led by Blackmon, finished 29th out of 31 teams.
Niehaus, South Carolina state meet best holder (17:36.81) in cross country and 1600 and 3200-meter record holder in track, was sixth runner across the line for the Cardinals at NCAA West Region meet Nov. 10 at Blue Lake Park in Fairview, Ore. with a 26th 6,000 time of 22:08.54.