JOPLIN, MO – The nationally 18
th-ranked University of Mary women's cross country team will be hitting the course one more time this postseason. The Marauders placed third at the NCAA Central Region Championship, guaranteeing the team a spot at the NCAA National Championships. The day was headlined by senior
Alyssa Becker's individual victory in the field of 219 runners.
Becker's time of 20:20.2 earned her a fourth victory this season against the best the region has to offer. In the past, the senior placed 6
th twice and 10
th at the Region Championship. She is the first Marauder since Ida Narbuvoll in 2019 to win the individual title.
Becker joins Narbuvoll, Jaiden Schuette, and Alexis Zeis (3x winner) as NCAA Central Region champions from UMary.
Joining Becker as All-Region performers were
Kristine Kalthoff (20:48.7) in 3
rd and
Andrijana Fundak (21:34.2) in 17
th. Rounding out the team scoring were
Elizabeth Acheson (22:02.1) in 38
th and
Terez Wycklendt (22:26.09) in 57
th.
The third-place finish qualifies UMary for the NCAA National Championships, the Marauders' 12
th trip to the finals. Individually, Becker will be going for the fourth time, Kalthoff is making her third trip. Going to nationals for the second time will be Fundak, Wycklendt, Acheson, and
Hannah Westin.
The only teams above UMary were #12 Pittsburg State and #8 Augustana.
Full results from the NCAA Central Region Championships can be found here.
The NCAA National Championships will be held on Nov. 23 in Sacramento, CA, at the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course. UMary will be looking to build upon its 19
th-place finish from last year.
#marauders#
