CHICAGO --- University of St. Francis' third meet of the year netted the Fighting Saints a 24th-place finish out of 34 teams competing at the Sean Earl/Loyola University Lakefront Invitational on Saturday.

The muddy and hilly 5K course on Chicago's lakefront left little room for improvement, but freshman Torin Mallonee (Xavier H.S./Cedar Rapids, IA) overcame the wet and windy conditions to post her best collegiate time at 21:16.  Cutting 38 seconds from her previous time two weeks earlier at the National Catholic Invitational, Mallonee notched USF's third-best time at 21:16, which placed her 203rd overall.

That time proved to be just under one minute off the pace that senior Meghan Bannatz (Novi H.S./Novi, MI) set for the rest of the St. Francis runners.  Bannatz recorded a 20:19 to place 136th overall with sophomore Courtney Madden (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) next in line at 20:51 (178th).

USF gained its other points from freshmen Renee Cholyway (Regina H.S./Warren, MI), who also recorded her best collegiate time (21:24, 213th), and Julia Borel-Donohue (Bellbrook H.S./Bellbrook, OH), who posted a 21:29 finish and 217th placement.

Wichita State University placed three runners in the top seven spots to gain the invitational title scoring 67 points.  Missouri State University was second at 103 points.

USF totaled 741 points.

Missouri State's Terry Phillips was the first runner of the 378 that crossed the finish line with a time of 17:40.

The Saints journey to Lisle, Ill.'s Community Park on Friday to compete in the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational.  The meet begins at 3:30 p.m.