JOPLIN, MO – The #21 University of Mary women's cross country team continues to shine in the championship season as a trio of Marauders earned all-region recognition for their impressive day at the 2023 NCAA Central Region Championships. Alyssa Becker, Andrijana Fundak and Kristine Kalthoff all placed in the top 17 individually to lead the Marauders to a 4^th place team finish.
 
The Marauders missed an automatic berth to the NCAA championships by just 14 team points. UMary finished with 142 points, just behind 3^rd place Pittsburg State with 128 points. Winona State finished first with 52 points and Augustana (95) claimed second. Host Missouri Southern was a distant 5^th with 205 points in the 31-team 199-runner field.
 
The Marauders will find out Monday, November 6, if they will receive an at large berth to the NCAA championships. Ten at large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee using selection criteria. There is no limit to the number of at-large teams that may be selected from any given region. Also eight individuals will be selected at-large. There is no limit to the number of at large individuals that may be selected from the same region. The top individual from each region not receiving an automatic qualifying spot and not on a qualifying team, will be compared head-to-head using the same model as in the at-large team selection process.
 
As she has all season, Becker led the Marauders efforts. The All-American traversed the 6K Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on the campus of Missouri State in just 20:57.70 to place 6^th.
 
Not far behind was Fundak, who took 9^th place with a time of 21:04.18
 
Kalthoff took 17^th place in 21:25.18.
 
All three earn NCAA All-Region honors for their performances.
 
Rounding out the team scoring was Terez Wycklendt (49^th in 22:13.69) and Teresa Blote (61^st in 22:24.38).
 
The NCAA DII National Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, November 18, also in Joplin, Missouri.
 
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