AUGUSTA, KAN. -- Drake senior Casey McDermott earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for the second straight year by placing 10th in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday morning.

McDermott covered the 5,000-meter race in 17 minutes 52.11 seconds.

Drake finished seventh in the meet, tallying 149 points. Host  Wichita State captured the team title with 54 points.

"We were disappointed with our team placing," said Drake head coach Dan Hostager. "But we had some great efforts. Casey (McDermott) ran a solid race, but she would have liked to place higher. She battled all the way to the end. "

Drake senior Tara Scieszinski (Albia, Iowa) was 32nd in 18:52.85, just clipping senior teammate Meredith Bell (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) who was 33rd in 18:53.88.

Drake senior Katie Coomer (Overland Park, Kan.) was 37th in 18:59.47 while freshman Erin Poss (Antoich, Ill.)was 39th in  19:02.46.

McDermott said her finish will serve as incentive for the NCAA Midwest Regional meet in two weeks in Peoria, Ill.

"I didn't run as well as I wanted to," said McDermott. "I was hoping to do a lot better. This will now be good motivation to perform better at the NCAA Regionals."

Missouri Valley Conference Women's Cross Country Championship
At Augusta, Kan.
Team Scoring
1. Wichita State 54; 2.  Illinois State 68; 3. Missouri State 82; 4. Indiana Sate 126; 5. Bradley 128;
6. Southern Illinois 137; 7. Drake 149; 8. Northern Iowa 190; 9. Evansville 211; 10. Creighton 285.

Drake Results
10. Casey McDermott, 17:52.11
32. Tara Scieszinski, 18:52.85    
33. Meredith Bell, 18:53.88    
37. Katie Coomer, 18:59.47    
39  Erin Poss, 19:02.46    
41. Kirsten Lake, 19:07.64     
62  Amanda Marwitz, 19:56.03   

Individual Winner (5,000 Meters)
1. Tonya Nero, Wichita State, 17:25.34