TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It was 35 degrees and foggy at the Lavern Gibson Championship Course yesterday when senior Nicole Edwards jumped up and down in excitement, gloved hands in fists, celebrating her 24th-place finish at the NCAA championships.

In her last collegiate meet, Edwards ran fast enough to earn All-American honors.

“I’m happy because I just found out I got 24th place,” Edwards said. “Going into the meet my goal was to be top-25. When I finished I thought I was low 30s, but Mike (McGuire) just told me I was 24th, so I’m really excited about that.”

Edwards was one of 252 runners from 31 schools across the country to compete in the meet. But her performance was not enough, leading the Wolverines to a disappointing 16th-place finish.

Though Michigan didn't crack the top 10, the team did run better than last year, when it placed a disappointing 21st.

“I thought we were OK,” Michigan coach Mike McGuire said. “I would have liked to have been in the top 10 or 12, but we are still better than last year. I definitely don’t feel as empty about things as I did last year.”

Washington came in first place with an impressive score of 79. Oregon finished second with a score of 131, and Michigan's score was 416.

Behind Edwards, sophomore Danielle Tauro, senior Geena Gall and junior Kelly Sampson placed in the low 100s and scored for the Wolverines. The group packed well in last year’s championships but ran much closer to the front in yesterday’s race, showing promising improvement.

“Danielle and Geena packed last year, and this year they packed a lot, lot higher so that was a positive sign of growth for the two of them,” McGuire said.

As a strong team all year, the Wolverines’ struggles at NCAAs could have stemmed from a number of factors.

Losing top runners Erin Webster and Alyson Kohlmeier from last season’s squad has not been easy for Michigan, but younger runners including Tauro and Jenny Morgan stepped up. With the end of the season comes time to say goodbye to top runner Edwards forever.

“She has had really as outstanding a career as anyone who has ever come through our program,” McGuire said. “We are definitely losing a front runner, so you have to hope people continue to grow in your program, and you know Danielle and Jenny are probably the two we are going to be looking to as leaders.”

According to Gall this year has been a rebuilding year for a young team.

Either way, the Wolverines have fared well in most meets. After starting out the season outside the top 20, the Wolverines went into the championships yesterday ranked eighth in the nation.

Although Michigan didn’t meet its goal and place in the top 10 this year, Edwards achieved her goal in her last chance to do so.

“We came into this race wanting to be top 10, but circumstance had it and it didn’t take place,” Gall said. “Nicole is an All-American, so we are really happy about that.”