SOUTH BEND -- Running in the most competitive race of the 2010 season to this point, the BYU women’s cross country team finished in 10th place overall at the prestigious Notre Dame Invitational.

“This is the most competitive field we will face until the NCAA Championships,” BYU women’s head coach Patrick Shane said. “Five of the top six teams in the country were here, and I am pleased with our progress and our top-10 finish today.”

Junior Katie Bowen led the way for the Cougars, crossing the line in 17:27 and taking home 43rd place. Following closely behind was teammate Katy Andrews, who finished two seconds behind Bowen to take 47th place in 17:29.

Also in the grouping with Bowen and Andrews was sophomore Nicole Nielsen, the reigning MWC Cross Country Freshman of the Year. Nielsen ran for the first time since Sept. 4 and took 49th place in 17:31.

Sarah Edwards and Rachel Lange filled the final two scoring positions for the Cougars, finishing 78th and 85th, respectively. Edwards crossed the line in 17:51 and Lange finished in 17:55.

Sophomore Michaelanne Laurent was the sixth Cougar to finish, coming across in 110th place in 18:13. Millie Rapp, a junior, came in a second behind Laurent in 18:14, placing 113th.

“I felt really good about our performance,” Shane said. “Now we have a few weeks to build on this performance and get ready for Pre-Nationals.”

BYU will be back in action in two weeks as they head to Terre Haute, Ind. for the annual Pre-Nationals showdown. The women’s race will begin at 9:00 a.m. MST and results will be available gosycamores.com after the completion of the meet.

PROVO -- As the first weekend in October approaches, the BYU women’s cross country team prepares for its first major test of the season as they head to South Bend, Indiana for the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday.

BYU will be one of 12 nationally ranked teams competing in the event. Other teams include No. 1 Villanova, No. 2 Florida State, No. 3 Washington, No. 5 Oregon, No. 8 Princeton, No. 12 New Mexico, No. 18 West Virginia, No. 19 UTEP, No. 23 SMU, No. 24 Iowa and No. 30 Notre Dame.

Currently ranked No. 21 in the USTFCCCAA National Coaches’ Poll, the Cougars will look to move up the standings with a good performance at Notre Dame. The race will be the final tune-up for BYU before the annual Pre-Nationals meet on October 16 in Terre Haute, Indiana.