WATERFORD, CONN.— Posting three of the four fastest 6,000-meter times in school history, the No. 23-ranked Central College women's cross country team staked its claim to a spot on the national stage, taking second place in a 26-team Connecticut College Invitational that featured 10 nationally ranked squads Saturday.
           
No. 5-ranked New York University put all five of its runners in the top 15 and won with 36 points to Central's 130. No. 24 Vassar College (N.Y.) was third with 138 with No. 12 St. Olaf College (Minn.) at 157, No. 27 Middlebury College (Vt.) at 171, No. 30 Connecticut College at 182, No. 34 St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) at 198 and No. 17 Bates College (Maine) at 204. American Rivers foe Loras College was 14th with 423.
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Taking advantage of calm, comfortable conditions on the flat, oceanside course, Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) erased her own school record, placing fourth individually in 21:16.7, well under her school mark of 21:50 set last October in the Augustana (Ill.) Interregional Invitational in Rock Island, Illinois and 51 seconds faster than her previous season best. Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was seventh in 21:23.7, No. 2 all-time at Central, more than a minute under her previous best.
           
"They really got out in front of the crowd," coach Joe Dunham said. "And they were able to run pretty free and that really helped. It was good to see them get out and get into a good position early and hold that."
           
Dunham said the course was fast but challenging to race on.
           
"There are a lot of turns and a lot of things to naviage in the race because the course is really tight," he said. "It's not even 10 meters wide most of the way so if you don't get out fast you're in trouble. Our men probably struggled with it a little more because they ran first so I was able to make sure they women knew that and they got out really well."
           
Addison Parrott (junior, Danville) was 19th in 22:04.2, which puts her fourth on Central's career list. But Kira Hooper (junior, Henderson, N.C., Cirrus Valley HS) also caught Dunham's eye, placing 36th in a personal best 22:32.
           
"I think the MVP today has to got to be Kira," he said. "She just put down and incredible race today."
           
Hailey Hill (5th-year, Las Vegas, Nevada, Palo Verde HS) was 64th in 22:57.2, Lindsey Davidson (senior, Northwood, Northwood-Kensett HS) was 69th in a career-best 23:05.0 and Leah Bontrager (sophomore, Wellman, Hillcrest Academy) was 70th in a career-best 23:05.2.
           
"We stuck with our game plan," Dunham said. "I was really proud of how they executed exactly what we talked about going into the race. That was fun to see, to see them run so smart and to battle the way that they did. It's great to see them be able to do that and gain some confidence going into our championship season now."
           
The Dutch immediately turn their focus to the American Rivers Championships on their home course in the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex Oct. 28. The women's race starts at noon. No. 7-ranked Wartburg College is the defending champion. Central finished third behind Loras College last year, its second consecutive third-place showing. The Dutch haven't placed hired than third since taking second in 1986. Central won titles in 1982 and 1985.
           
"We know we've got some really good teams in our league and we'll have to put together a great race," Dunham said. "The goal is to be top three but we're always trying to do better."