By Merrimack Journal staff

Caroline Fischer is only a freshman, but she can run among the top teenagers in the country.

Fischer, a Bishop Guertin freshman and native of Merrimack, finished 49th out of 199 finishers at the Nike Cross Country Nationals on Saturday at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.

Fischer completed the race in 18 minutes and 49.1 seconds, which was 1:39.1 behind winner Brie Oakley (17:10.1), of Grandview High School in Centennial, Colo.

Seven Souhegan student-athletes also earned the trip and Amherst XC placed 21st out of 22 teams. Senior Madeleine Hunt, who won the Division II individual championship and led the Sabers to D-II and Meet of Champions titles, finished in the top half of the field and took 72nd with a time of 19:02.9.

Sophomore Arielle Zlotnick (117th, 19:46.4), junior Jane Leighton (120th, 19:47.4), freshman Marissa Romano (171st, 20:39.5), senior Shannon Earley (192nd, 21:12), junior Elise Lambert (198th, 22:19.5) and senior Emmy Ehrenstein (199th, 22:51.8) also represented Amherest on the national stage.

Manlius XC blew away the competition for the girls team title with 41 points, clearing second-place Davis-CA XC (181) by 120 points.