MILWAUKEE – Temperatures were in the forties, and the track was set for the final race of 2017. Little did the Mount Mary University cross country team know that senior Jori Galles (Waukesha, Wis.) was about to post the fastest six-kilometer finish in the school's history. In a season filled with top tier finishes and heart-wrenching performances, the Blue Angels continued to progress and make more splashes in the NCAA in 2017.

Working to cut times all season long, the Blue Angels started the first few meets towards the backend of the team scoring. Finishing 9-of-13, 8-of-14, and 11-of-13 in their first three meets, MMU was still receiving standout performances from multiple Blue Angels despite the low early finishes.

Jori Galles continued to impress throughout the entirety of the 2017 season. Along with Christina Ishaq (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.), the ever-improving duo finished at the top of the Blue Angel pack in each race this season. To begin the year, the two showed off with a five-kilometer finish near the 21-minute mark at the Tom Barry Invitational where MMU finished ninth in team scoring.

While the season went on, the entire team solidified and cut times down. Galles and Ishaq continued to finish ahead of the pack, Carlie O'Donnell (Jr./Sharon, Wis.), Mary Jenks (So./Wild Rose, Wis.) and Sarah Anklam (Jr./St Marys, Ga.) anchored the rest of the core in every regular season race this year.

O'Donnell's top 6-kilometer race came at the right time for the Blue Angels. In the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship, O'Donnell finished with a 31:34.2 time and helped her team with one of the top five times on her squad.

Mary Jenks and Sarah Anklam also turned in big time performances at the NACC Championships. Jenks and Anklam both finished with 31-minute and 32-minute times respectively to help bolster the Blue Angel pack. Galles and Ishaq finished ahead of the Blue Angels core with a seventh and 20th placing respectively in the conference championship race.

Following the penultimate race of 2017, the Blue Angels had a full fortnight to prepare for the NCAA Regional Championships. MMU took that time and used it to full advantage as the top five runners for the Blue Angels finished under the 30-minute mark in a grueling six-kilometer race, which was the first time that happened this season.

Along with the low finishing times at the NCAA Regional Championships, Jori Galles led all the Blue Angels with a record setting performance. Galles trudged through the cold and tough terrain on that breezy November day at the Saukie Golf Course. The previous MMU six-kilometer record of 23:34.3 was set by Emily Barker ('14) in the 2013 NCAA Championships. At the same locale, Galles proved her own personal determination finishing with a 23:13.7 time at Saukie Golf Course thus setting the new record for the Blue Angels.

A definite "step forward" for the Blue Angels in 2017. The entire team continued to minimize their race times this season and now continue to work and improve for 2018. The progressing cross country program prepares for another yet season with one of their most successful seasons in their rear-view mirror. Stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com for more updates on all your favorite Blue Angels.