LISLE, Ill. --- Running its first 6K race of the season, University of St. Francis gained its best overall finish of the fall placing fifth out of 11 teams at the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational on Friday afternoon at Community Park.

USF's previous best was a seventh-place showing in the season opener at Elmhurst.

Individually, senior Meghan Bannatz (Novi H.S./Novi, MI) captured her best overall placement by finishing seventh out of 141 runners who crossed the finish line.  She ran a 24:15.  Illinois Central College's Brittany Carius ran the fastest time at 23:07.

Sophomore Courtney Madden (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) garnered USF's second-best finish for the third time this season with her 24:57 showing, which placed her 28th overall. Freshman Torin Mallonee (Xavier H.S./Cedar Rapids, IA) was next in line with her 25:35 and 38th-place finish.

Junior Lisa Stolzenbach (Beecher H.S./Beecher, IL) aided the cause, as well, scoring points for the team for the first time in 2009 with her time of 26:13.  That placed her 46th overall, one notch higher than teammate Renee Cholyway (Regina H.S./Warren, MI), who registered a time of 26:15.

USF's next competition is the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Invitational on Oct. 24.