NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mercer University's women's cross country squad ran to a sixth place finish at the 2011 Atlantic Sun Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Lipscomb University was the A-Sun champion team.

Junior Kacie Niemann ran her way to a second team All-A-Sun finish by crossing the line in 12^th place. Niemann's time of 18:10.10 minutes was the second-fastest five-kilometer time in school history.  It was Niemann's best finish in the A-Sun race, having finished 13^th as a freshman (also earning second team and All-Freshman accolades).

Sophomore Lena Hamvas came across at 32^nd in the individual standings in a time of 19:13.30, with senior Christina Kivi having a career-best time of 19:19.60 minutes (35^th)  in the final 5K event of her Mercer career.

Sophomore Samantha Woller was the Bears' fourth finisher in 41^st place in a clocking of 19:29.40, with freshman Illiana Garcia MU's fifth scoring runner in 58^th place (20:51.00).

The Bears will finish the 2011 campaign at the NCAA Division I South Regional race at Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday, November 12.