STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Running against some of the nation's top collegiate athletes, a young Ohio State women's cross country team finished in eighth-place Sunday at the 2009 Big Ten Championships.

Led by junior Jordan Jennewine, who earned second-team all-Big Ten honors thanks to a 12th-place finish in 21:02, the Buckeyes showed a tremendous amount of improvement from 2008, when the team failed to place a runner in the top 30.

"Jordan ran very well today, but as a team we were not at our best," distance coach Chris Neal said after the race. "Obviously, it is a tremendous accomplish for Jordan to become only the third runner in school history to earn all-Big Ten honors."

Sarah Foster, the Buckeyes' top finisher at the conference championships a season ago saw an eight-spot improvement in her final standing from 2008 - the junior finished 27th in a time of 21:29. Senior Katie Williams (21:40) and junior Ellen Birmingham (21:42) were next up for Ohio State, finishing 36th and 37th respectively.

Freshman Victoria Brink represented the Buckeyes well in her inaugural championship meet, finishing 52nd in 22:15. Sophomore Sarah Lowe (62nd, 22:31) and junior Ashley Chirco (63rd, 22:34) rounded out the Buckeye effort.

No. 18 Penn State took home the team title on their 6k home course with 71 points, followed by No. 13 Illinois (77) and No. 15 Minnesota (80). Indiana's 161 points were just enough to hold off the Buckeyes (164) for seventh.

"We are definitely moving in the right direction, but we are better than we showed today," Neal said in response to the final standings. "The Big Ten is just a tough, tough conference."

The Buckeyes will rest their legs for the week before heading to Bloomington, Ind. for the 2009 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships.

Team Results
1 Penn State - 71
2 Illinois - 77
3 Minnesota - 80
4 Michigan - 122
5 Michigan State - 137
6 Iowa - 150
7 Indiana - 161
8 Ohio State - 164
9 Purdue - 204
10 Wisconsin - 254
11 Northwestern - 326

Individual Results
12  Jordan Jennewine       21:02    5:39
27  Sarah Foster           21:29    5:46
36  Katie Williams        21:40    5:49
37  Ellen Birmingham      21:42    5:50
52  Victoria Brink            22:15    5:59
62  Sarah Lowe            22:31    6:03
63  Ashley Chirco          22:34    6:04
Time = 1:48:07     Places = 164