Rachael Lanzel was like any normal seventh grader when she started running track. She was just looking to fit in with a group. “It was for fun and was something to do after school” she said. “It was in eleventh grade that I really started to have a passion for running.” This passion led Rachael to become a two-time All-American in cross country and to finish fourth a year ago at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Rachael will be the highest returning finisher from the NCAA Division II National Championships as Esther Komen has transferred to Harding and will not return till the 2008 cross country season. Nicole Plante and Laura Aderman have both graduated. Rachael is not feeling any more pressure than normal though as the highest returning finisher “There is always pressure to become a better runner” she said as if it was no different than the pressure of getting to class on time. This want to become a better runner corresponds with her goals for this season. “I just want my team and me to run as best as we can at the national level” she said hopefully. The question is what brought Rachael to Edinboro instead of a bigger school. “I’m from Pennsylvania. My high school coach’s brother ran for Edinboro and he said it was one of the better running schools. When I visited and I met the girls, I really liked the team” she said. “I think Division II gives runners a chance to develop into a more mature runner. I think there is more pressure to be a star on a Division I team” she further explains. Edinboro Cross Country has given her some of her biggest accomplishments. “I am very proud of my fourth place finish last year” she said, “I am really proud of my team making it to Nationals last year. There were four freshmen and me last year: they really worked hard and we came together as a team to get there.” With the way the Rachael and the team have been performing this year, it is quite possible that Rachael will only add to her list of accomplishments. In Division II meet news, The Bob Firman Invitational was held this Saturday at Eagle Island State Park in Boise, Idaho where the West regional race will be held later this season. Jessica Pixler from Seattle Pacific won the women’s 5k race over Breanna Sande from Boise State with a time 18:01. Boise State took the women’s team title over Chico State. Patrick Boivin from Chico TC won the men’s 8k in a time of 25:18 over Tim Tollefson from Chico State. Chico State took the men’s team title with the score of 30 over Boise State who had a score of 96. The inaugural Jaguar Invitation was held this Saturday in Augusta, GA. Carson Newman’s Aubrey Morris won the women’s 6k race in a time of 24:41 with Columbus State’s Isabel Speer coming in second with a time of 25:07. Columbus State won the women’s team title with 52 points followed by the host team, Augusta State with 66 points. St. Benedict’s Emmanuel Kirwa won the men’s 10k in 34:04 followed by his teammate Onell Williams with a 35:34. Columbus State also won the men’s team title with 52 points only two points over Nova Southwestern who had 54 points. At the Iona College Challenge, UMass-Lowell’s men finished ninth, and Kuztown’s Women Seventh. Both teams were the highest division II team finishers. Both the Lenoir-Rhyne College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams won the NCAA Division II race at the 2007 L-R Invitational Friday evening at Southside Park in Newton, N.C. On the men’s side, Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore Brad Popple won the overall race with a time of 26:39 over the 8K course. Lenior-Rhyne junior Genna Eisenmann was the top female runner in the NCAA Division II race after finishing with a 19:44 over 5K.