The ISU women's cross country team finished 26th in the 2011 NCAA Division 1 Pre-National meet on Sunday against some of the most competitive teams in the nation.

The women ran their first 6k race of the season, and several women improved their time from the 2010 NCAA Pre-National meet.

Sophomore runner Jessica Zangmeister led the Sycamores in 85th place with a time of 22:25, and senior runner Kacie Klem was close behind to finish 102nd overall with a time of 22:37. Both of the Lady Sycamores improved their 2010 time by seven seconds.

Finishing third for ISU and 155th overall was junior Andrea Prusz in 23:27, shaving off six seconds from the previous year's race.

Following Prusz was sophomore Valerie Burns with a time of 23:36 (165th) and senior Kristy Twitchell in 23:36 (166th).

Head coach John Gartland said, the ladies did not race to expectation despite the minor improvements.

"Our first seven runners on the team run together in practices," Gartland said. "I am in quandary as to why we were spread out so far today."

Zangmeister said heavy winds towards the start and finish of the race, made it a difficult finish for the whole field.

Senior runner Kelsie Slater ran through re-injuring her hamstring, which she had been resting during the previous meets, finishing in 24:11 (235th).

Also racing for the Sycamores were freshman Nicole Lucas in 23:41 (168th), sophomore runner Kalli Dalton in 24:07 (206th), junior runner Serena Simeoli in 25:44 (293rd), sophomore runner Ashley Name in 26:24 (299th), and sophomore runner Lindy Jones in 26:42 (302nd).

"We ran very timidly and were not prepared for this level of competition," Gartland said. "We did beat some quality teams, but we didn't beat the teams we needed to in our region to move up in the rankings."

Gartland said, the ladies will begin their climb in training, followed by a gradual taper to prepare themselves physically and mentally for the 2011 Missouri Valley Championships.

The MVC meet will be held in two weeks and will also be hosted by the Sycamores, giving the ladies another run at the LaVern Gibson course before heading to the Hoosier Invitational and the 2011 Great Lakes Regional Championship.