Elgin, Ill. - Junior Rachael Dean (Lindenhurst, Ill./Judson University/Lakes) and freshman Jordan Wallace (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) both qualified for the 2010 NAIA National Championship Meet in leading the Saint Xavier University women's cross country team to a second-place team finish Saturday at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Championship Meet in Elgin, Ill. Dean won the meet with a time of 18:16 over the 5K course (5,000 meters), while Wallace finished eighth overall at 18:37. The national meet will take place in Vancouver, Wash., on Saturday, November 20. Olivet Nazarene University won the conference meet with 27 total points and SXU was next up with 68 team points.

Other top performers for the Cougars Saturday were junior Jackie Ott (Island Lake, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) in 13^th place with a 18:57 clocking and senior Jade Braden (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) placed 25^th in the field of 100 runners at 19:47. Rounding out the team scorers for Saint Xavier was senior Kelly Malone (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) with a time of 20:10 good enough for 32^nd place.

"Our team ran hard and I am so proud of this group and what they were able to accomplish this season," said SXU women's cross country coach Lisa Ebel. "Rachael had another amazing race and deserves to win the individual conference title and represent Saint Xavier at Nationals. Jordan also had another great race and I am so excited to see her get the opportunity as a freshman to run at the national meet."