Boots Earns All-America Honors at NCAA Cross Country Championship

WINNECONNE, Wis. -- Wellesley junior Randelle Boots earned All-America honors at the 2011 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday. The event, hosted by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosch, was held on a 6K course at Lake Breeze Golf Club.

Boots finished 12th overall to earn her second-straight All-America honor in cross country. The junior completed the race in 21:23.4, capping a 2011 season in which she also earned All-Region and NEWMAC Runner of the Year honors. 

Also representing Wellesley at the event, senior Leah Clement finished in 104th place overall. Making her first appearance at the NCAA Championships in cross country, she finished the 6K race in 22:19.43.

A total of 277 runners finished the race, with Williams' Chiara Del Piccolo crossing the line first in a time of 20:52.08. Washington University (Mo.) won the team title, with all five of its scoring runners finishing in the top 40.  

Both Boots and Clement will now look ahead to the 2011-12 Indoor Track and Field season. The duo will lead Wellesley at their season opening event, the Carisella Invitational on December 3rd at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Last indoor season, Boots won the NCAA Championship in the mile, while Clement was an All-American in the 800m. 

Clement, Assistant Coach Ravenna Neville and Boots Await the Awards Ceremony