CHARLOTTE, N.C. –  Clayton State junior Allison Kreutzer ran a fantastic finish in the finals of the women's 5,000-meter run on Saturday night to finish fourth in the event and help the Laker women to an 18th place team finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Track & Field Championships at Johnson C. Smith.
 
Kreutzer's finish in the 5,000-meter run secured her second All-American honor of the meet. On Thursday, she along with teammate Angela Cobb finished third and sixth, respectively, in the women's 10,000-meter run final.  In Saturday's final, Kreutzer had to work her way from the back of the field of 12 finalists.

"Allison got out well and was in the top four during the first two laps of the race, but by the fifth lap, she was in last place," explained Lakers coach Mike Mead.

However, in the last four laps, Kreutzer caught up to the eighth spot and from there worked with two other competitors and caught the fourth and fifth place runners with 200 meters to the finish. Down the home stretch, Kreutzer passed everyone in the group and held off a late charge to take fourth place in 17:17.45. Less than a half of a second separated her from the sixth place finisher.

"Allison ran a fantastic race in the final five laps," Mead said. "I was worried for a short while when she went to the back of the field whether she was tapped out after running 10,000m on Thursday and the 5,000m prelims on Friday. But she proved just how tough a runner she is."

All told, Kreutzer finished up racing a total of 12.4 miles over the course of the three-day meet. Kreutzer completes her junior year as Clayton State's most decorated runner as a two-time cross country All-American and now a two-time track & field All-American.  Meanwhile, Cobb finished a remarkable year as a cross country All-American and earning All-American honors in the 10,000m in just her first season of running track.  The Clayton State women's team also comes away with its highest finish at the national meet.