GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Oglethorpe women's cross country team turned in a strong performance at the Southern Athletic Association Championships on Saturday, finishing sixth overall in a competitive field with freshman Kirsten Rose winning SAA rookie of the year as the league's top newcomer.

Rose continued her standout debut season, leading the Stormy Petrels with a time of 23:27.6 in the 6k. Her effort earned her SAA honorable mention and was the highest finish by an Oglethorpe harrier at the SAA Championships since the 2000 season. Rose's title of SAA rookie of the year also marked an impressive milestone in her first conference championship appearance as she became the first Petrel in program history to win one of the conference's major awards.

Senior Hannah Rhodes was next across the line for Oglethorpe, clocking 23:49.7 to close out her final SAA championship race on a high note. Fellow senior Elliott Baker followed with a time of 26:07.1, rounding out the Petrels' top three finishers, all in the top 40.

With two seniors leading alongside a rising freshman standout, the Petrels showed balance and promise heading into the postseason.

Up next, the Stormy Petrels will travel to Roanoke, Virginia, for the NCAA South Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 15.