FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2013) - Exhibiting a strong display of pack running within a large competitive field, the North Central College women's cross country team turned in a sixth-place finish in the 38-team NCAA Division III MIdwest Region Championships, held Saturday at Saukie Golf Course.

The Cardinals turned in a score of 228 points, missing out on a spot in the top five by just 15 points. The seventh-ranked University of Chicago placed three runners in the top 10 and won the meet with 60 points, while the 19th-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse also earned an automatic bid to next week's national championship by placing second with 101 points. 17th0ranked Washington University in St. Louis placed third (114), followed by the 27th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point fourth ( (126) and Aurora University in fifth (213).

Washington's Lucy Cheadle was the Midwest Region's individual champion, completing the 6,000-meter (3.7-mile) course in 21 minutes, 31.4 seconds to lead the field of 280 entrants. North Central's first finisher was Krista Cota, who placed 39th in 22:53.0. Following close behind was teammate Jacki McKown, who placed 42nd in 22:56.0. 

Nora Ferguson finished 46th (23:02.9) for the Cardinals, while Katelyn Zumpf placed 51st (23:11.2) and Helen Majer placed 62nd (23:18.9) to complete North Central's scoring as the team's five scoring runners were separated by just 25 seconds. Also competing were Amanda Cortese in 68th (23:24.6) and Emily Trent in 81st (23:32.8).

The announcement of at-large qualifiers for the 2013 NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship will be made on ncaa.com on Sunday at 2 p.m.