Elmhurst, Ill. (Oct. 29, 2003) ???C Oakland senior cross country standout Kristie Kieffer (Sterling Heights, Mich.) has dominated the Mid-Continent Conference cross country best times list this season and was named the conference???s women???s Athlete of the Month for September it was announced today. Returning from a redshirt season, Kieffer quickly regained her form as one of the top competitors in Mid-Con women???s cross country circles. In her first race, Kieffer posted a second-place finish, running a 5-kilometer time of 19:41 at the Motor City Classic, which was one second behind teammate Melissa Nasers (Battle Creek, Mich.). Kieffer then posted back-to-back first-place finishes to earn consecutive Mid-Con Athlete of the Week honors. She topped 76 competitors with an 18:03 5K effort at the Detroit Titan Invitational, and came back the next week to finish first of 144 runners with a then Mid-Con season-best 5K time of 17:39 at the Mel Brodt Invitational, hosted by Bowling Green. Kieffer closed the month by posting the conference???s top 6K time this season (21:35.30) at the Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State. Going into the Mid-Con Championships this weekend, Kieffer owns the top Mid-Con times over both the 5 and 6K distances. Her time of 17:03 at the Bronco Invitational set a new Oakland record for a 5K race and is the best mark in the conference by 36 seconds this season. Both of Oakland???s cross country teams will be in action again at the Mid-Con Championships on Saturday, November 1. The meet will be hosted by Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma.