Freshman Kaitlyn Knoche earned all-conference honors with her eighth-place finish at the CCAC Championships competed at Sunset Hills Park in Valparaiso, Ind., Saturday.

Knoche crossed the line in 23:39 to finish eighth among 95 women's runners. She helped St. Ambrose place fourth.

Making a return to the lineup, Michaela Pieroni earned a top-20 finish, coming in 19th in 24:45. Adeline Smith was right behind Pieroni, finishing in 24:55 to place 22nd overall.

Rylee McCrery (25:35) and Allison Hein (26:11) were 27th and 35th, respectively. Rileigh Fortune, Carlie Woolm, Merin Crowder, Kenzie Kaperka, Jayne Eilderts and Eileen Elenteny also competed for St. Ambrose.

No. 9 St. Francis (Ill.) won the conference championship while No. 24 Olivet Nazarene was second.

Five runners in the top 30, all finishing within a minute of each other, helped the SAU men take fifth.

Luke Benes was the top Bee, crossing the line in 26:12 to place 18th overall. Will Dowda was 21st overall, finishing in 26:26. Just a second behind was Chris Miserendino, who placed 22nd in 26:27. Ian Eller (26:42) and Trae Corby (27:09) rounded out the top five.

Ross Willerth, Nathan Boleyn, Noah Maske, Bryan Flentge, Tommy Ashby, Brennon Munch, Kevin Chaney and Donnie Ingram also ran for St. Ambrose.

St. Francis swept both races with their 13th-ranked men also claiming the conference crown. ONU was also runner-up on the men's side.