After running all season, the Saint Louis University cross-country team began to see the finish line of their season at the Atlantic 10 championship at Temple University.

After success all year, Head Coach Jon Bell was hoping for a top-five performance from the women’s team and top-ten performance from the men’s team in the conference championships.

The Billikens had a strong day and were very close to meeting Bell’s expectations going into the meet. The women’s team placed fourth overall in the conference and the men’s team placed 11th. Both sides matched their best performances in the conference championship. The teams had some strong showing on both sides.

The women’s side was led by Margo Richardson who has lead the team all year. She placed fourth overall in the 5K with a time of 17:50.5. Richardson also claimed all-conference honors. She has claimed all-conference honors all three years she has been at SLU.

Not far behind Richardson was her teammate Jessica Hoefert. Hoefert placed 13th in the 5K with a time of 18:20.3. Hoefert also received all-conference honors. Richardson and her performances were a key reason that the Bills that placed fourth in the conference.

Two other female runners placed in the top 30. Natalie Myers finished 20th with a time of 18:34.2 and Lauren Fyalka placed 26th with a time 18:38.8. The Bills had a strong showing from the women’s side.

The men’s side, not to be out done by the women, had some good performances of their own.

The men’s team was led by sophomores Tim Zellmer and Michael Scolarici. Zellmer placed 12th in the 8K with a time of 26:07.8, and Scolarici finished 15th in the 8K with a time of 26:09.1.

Both men earned all-conference honors. They are the first two male runners at SLU to earn all-conference honors.

James Collins placed 75th with a time of 27:27.7 in the 8K and freshman Nathan Rubellke placed 77th with a time of 27:31.3.

The cross-country team was formed in 2005, and Bell took over the team in 2006. In the past few years, the team has found success despite being the newest Bills sports program.

Richardson, Hoefert, Zellmer and Scolarici have shown how the program has grown in just the past few years, with the four earning all-conference honors.

SLU still has a few meets left this season. The team will compete in the NCAA Midwest regional on Friday, Nov. 9 in Springfield, Mo.