ROCK ISLAND, ILL.— Leading the Central College women's cross country team with a new career-fastest time in the 6,000 meters, Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) finished fifth and the Dutch were 12th at the Augustana Inter-Regional Saturday morning.
           
Central totaled 337 points to take 12th in the 35-team field. Colorado College won the team race with 56 points and Isabel Olson of the Tigers was the individual winner in 21 minutes, 7.1 seconds.
           
Steffen's time of 21:26.4 is the third-fastest mark in program history.
           
"It was great to see her run a big PR," coach Joe Dunham said. "She took control of her race early and didn't let up. She's confident and its showing."
           
Addison Parrott (senior, Danville) was second for the Dutch in a time of 22:02.2 to take 25th overall.
           
"It's the same thing with Addison," Dunham said. "Both her and Peyton got out fast and just kept pressing with urgency. They are both running at a very high level right now."
           
Emma Rocha (senior, Franklin, Wis.), Kira Hooper (Henderson, N.C., Citrus Valley HS) and Teah Miller (sophomore, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) scored as top-five runners for Central. Rocha was 104th (23:17.9), Hooper was 112th (23:22.1) and Miller was 114th (23:22.6).
           
"I am starting to see really good things with our chase pack that should strengthen our team dramatically in the next few weeks," Dunham said.
           
Eva Hoch (Norwalk) and Sara DeHaan (senior, Cedar Falls) rounded out Central's top seven in 162^nd (23:53.0) and 189 th (24:17.2), respectively.
           
"We had some really good things come together for our women's team," Dunham said. "I'm pleased with them and their effort today."