LUBBOCK, TX – The Colorado Christian women's cross country team produced one historic quality performance on Saturday morning.
The Cougar tied their school best effort with a fifth place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships.
In 2019, Colorado Christian also placed fifth when they scored 211 points. This year's team bested that mark as they scored 177 points. They will now wait until Monday when the NCAA reveals its 10 at-large selections for the NCAA Championships. Based on earlier results at Lewis Crossover against other potential at-large selections, the Cougars are in a prime position for one of those berths for the first time in school history.
They nudged out Dallas Baptist by 10 points as well as their other Lone Star Conference foe West Texas A&M (202) for that top five finish.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The top duo all season paced the squad on Saturday morning. Paige Tack finished 23rd overall as the team's top runner in a time of 21:25.70 over the 6K course. For her top 25 finish, the Tack earned all-region honors.
Shannon King was just behind her as King placed 26th by clipping the tape in 21:33.80; just missing all-region honors by under a second.
Alysia Wagner worked her way through the field to place 33rd to provide a team with a low score by registering a time of 21:46.20. Christy Shuster also gave a low scoring stick by crossing in 37th. The senior notched a time of 21:52.20.
Michelle Kuipers completed the scoring runners as the sophomore completed the race in 22:42.80.
Kenzie Hartwig (23:20.30) and Elizabeth Mattson (23:30.40) helped knock off charging runners to aid in the squad's top five overall finish.
RACE INFORATION
- Adams State won the event with a team score of 30
- The top five teams all hailed from the RMAC
- Briana Robles won the individual title with a time of 20:24.30
UP NEXT: The Cougars await the NCAA selection announcement. The final teams selected for the National Championships will be posted on NCAA.com on Monday. Time for posting is to be determined.
