WINONA, Minn. — With three weeks remaining before the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, Saint Mary's University cross country coach John Skemp had a simple approach to last Saturday's Beloit Invitational: See times continue to drop, and get through the meet healthy.

The Cardinals were a perfect 2-for-2.

Let by a 15th-place finish from Alicia Hartung (Menomonie, Wis.) and a 17th-place showing from Tera Bollig (Cambridge, Minn.), the SMU women placed sixth in the 11-team women's meet, while the men, fueled by Andy Boisjolie's (Austin, Minn.) 44th-place effort, finished 14th in the 17-team men's field.

"It was a good meet for us — we had some people turn in some very good times," said Skemp. "We've got one (regular-season) meet left (Saturday at Winona State) and then it's two weeks before the MIAC, so we seem to be right on schedule.

"Our times keep getting better and better each week, and, hopefully, that will continue through the rest of the season," continued Skemp. "Our concern right now is making sure to keep everyone healthy down the stretch."

Hartung posted a five-kilometer time of 20:30 to lead the way for the Cardinals, while Bollig was close behind in 20:32. Ashley Davis (Hugo, Minn.) chipped in a time of 21:26, with Jenny Folgers (McHenry, Ill. / 22:23) and Anna Curtis (Franklin, Tenn. / 22:27) rounding out the Cardinals' top five.

Boisjolie toured the eight-kilometer course in 28:46 to pace the SMU men. Karl Hatteberg (Waltham, Minn.) finished in 30:03, while Steve Adams (Roseville, Minn. / 30:53), Pat Polasek (Glendale Heights, Ill. / 31:45) and Mike Marek (Winona, Minn. / 33:30) rounded out the SMU top five.

"Our goal all season is to make sure our times keep dropping throughout the season," Skemp said. "So far we've done that."