NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Regan Niemi (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS) started the 2026 season right where she left off, leading the St. Scholastica women's cross country team with a fifth-place finish at the Ole Opener 5K, hosted by St. Olaf College.

Niemi crossed the line in 19:28.8 to pace the Saints.

Macalester's Ingrid Nordquist claimed the individual title in 18:34.7, finishing nearly 30 seconds ahead of St. Olaf's Louisa Lamarre. St. Olaf's Arabella England placed third in 19:05.7 to round out the top three.

St. Olaf won the team title with 24 points, followed by Macalester with 60. St. Scholastica finished third with 71 points.

Senior Grace McCormick (Duluth, MN/Denfeld HS) was the second Saint across the line, finishing 14th in 20:05.3. Junior Abby Wood (Circle Pines, MN/Centennial HS) followed just three seconds later, placing 15th in 20:08.9 for a new 5K cross country personal best.

Sophomore Katelyn Torrel (Gilbert, MN/Virginia/Rock Ridge HS) also delivered a strong season-opening performance, cutting nearly a minute off her 5K cross country personal best with a time of 20:16.7 to finish 19th overall and score fourth for the Saints.

Senior Molykate Hagen rounded out St. Scholastica's scoring five, placing 33rd in 20:50.6, also setting a personal best at the 5K distance.

Head coach Chad Salmela credited the Saints' experience and ability to compete when the race began.

"This is a group of women who work hard and know how to race when the gun goes off," Salmela said. "You don't always know what you're going to get at the start of a season, but today confirmed these are veteran runners who simply know how to race. That's fun to be able to rely on."

The Saints will take next weekend off from competition before traveling to Cold Spring, Minnesota, on Sept. 18 for the Toni St. Pierre Invitational, hosted by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.