CONCORD, N.C. -- Belmont Abbey placed three runners in the top 13 and got a strong performance from the team's four other runners to place second -- its best ever --  at the 2017 Conference Carolinas Women's Cross Country Championship, held at Frank Liske Park Friday afternoon.

The Crusaders tallied 110 points as a team, just one point ahead of Southern Wesleyan. Mount Olive, ranked 21st in the country, won the meet with 18 points.

Annie Hetzel led The Abbey with a ninth-place finish to earn second-team all-conference honors. She covered the 6K course in 24:28.4, seven seconds ahead of teammate Hannah Zenker, who earned third-team all-conference distinction with an 11th-place finish of 24:35.8. Julia Otranto was also a member of the third team, finishing 13th at 24:39.6.

Theresa Wilson finished 38th overall in a career-best time of 27:15.5, while Savannah Lamb rounded out the team scoring with a time of 27:43.3 (42nd place). Jillian Culbertson (28:36.1./45th) and Brette Linkenhoker (47th/28:56.7) held places forcing other teams to a lower finish.

"We were led by our usual three," Head Coach Nick Radkewich said. "But the most valuable performance came from Theresa as she had her best college finish and gave us the winning points. "This runner-up finish is our best-ever and capped a strong overall year for the ladies. We have battled Southern Wesleyan and North Greenville all season and it was nice to come out ahead when it counted."

The Crusaders now turn their attention to the Division II Southeast Regional meet Nov. 4 at Wingate.