METAIRIE, La. – Spring Hill College women's cross country team opened the 2012 season on Saturday morning with a 5th place finish out of nine teams at the Loyola University Wolf Pack Classic at Lafreniere Park.

As a team, the Badgers ran a total team time of 2:00:04.44 over the 5-kilometer course for a total of 126 points and an average team time of 24:00.89.

Senior Melissa Menendez of Miami, Fla., was the top Badger finisher with a 25th place finish out of 66 total runners and a time of 23:02.08 over the 5-kilometer course.

Senior Payton Tanner of Fairhope, Ala., finished in 27th position at 23:08.84 and junior Emily Dolan from Mobile's McGill-Toolen Catholic High School finished in 30th place with a time of 23:33.71.

The 5th and 6th Badgers to cross the line were senior Kiearstan Carter of Murphy High School in Mobile who placed 37th at 24:15.91 and junior Claire Stewart of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., was 47th at 26:03.90.

The Badgers next run at the Azalea City Classic hosted by the University of South Alabama at Brookley Pines course in Mobile on Saturday at 8:20 a.m.