By Steven Wright

HANOVER, Ind. - The Ohio Northern women's cross country team captured first place at the Hanover (Ind.) Invitational with 48 point Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin-Stevens Point (60) and Baldwin-Wallace (72) finished second and third.

The Polar Bears were led by junior Rachel Smith who finished in sixth place in a time of 19:56.

Just one place behind was freshman Kelly Casanova who finished in 19:59.

ADA - Ryan New has been named head coach for both the Cross Country and Track & Field programs at Ohio Northern.

New comes to Northern after spending the past three years as an assistant coach at Centre (Ky.) and running for the program from 2001-2004.

The 2004 graduate earned his dual degree in classical studies and history from Centre.

New was a sprinter for the Colonels, competing in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes as well as the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays.

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's cross country team will open its 2008 schedule Aug. 31 at the Tiffin/Heidelberg Invitational in Tiffin.

The Polar Bears will then travel to Hanover (Ind.) for the first of possibly three meets there on Sept. 6.

Hanover will also host a Pre-National meet on Oct. 4 and will host the NCAA III Championships on Nov. 22.

Ohio Northern qualified for the 2006 NCAA Championships meet and looks to return for the second time in three seasons this year.