RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Colorado College placed four of its runners in the top-35 and finished third to lead all SCAC squads at the NCAA Division III West Region Saturday morning. Complete Results
Senior Kendall Accetta finished finished in fourth place, the best finish for a Colorado College runner in 21 years, and led the Tigers to third place Saturday at the NCAA Division III West Regional Championship in Riverside, Calif. Accetta, who won the SCAC title two weeks ago, completed the 6K course in 22:07.3 and posted the best finish by a Tiger since Sarah Fitzgerald placed third in 2002.
CC sophomore Alison Mueller-Hickler placed 18th and earned all-region honors (top 35 finishers) with a time of 22:53.0. Junior Elliot Singer (23:15.3) and sophomore Ella Fullerton (23:17.0) each received a spot on the all-region team by placing 25th and 26th, respectively. Sophomore Sky Theodosopoulos closed out the Tiger scoring by finishing 42nd in 23:40.8. First-year Clarlie Flint also posted a top 50 finish, coming in 48th in a time of 23:49.7.
The winning team from each of the 10 regions automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division III National Championship, while 22 other teams from around the country will be selected as at-large bids. In addition, the top seven individuals that are not on teams selected also advance to the national meet. The team and individual selections to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 12.
For the second consecutive year, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps captured the team title, taking top honors with 32 points, followed by George Fox (74) and Colorado College (108).
Trinity University secured a top-10 team finish, taking home 10th with a total team score of 276. Seniors Madison Habeck and Paige Tangney both finished inside the top 50 with times of 23:49.0 and 23:52.9, good enough for 47th and 49th place, respectively. First-year Cali Good was just behind in 53rd with a time of 23:58.9.
Competing in just its second NCAA regional, University of St. Thomas improved two places on its inaugural finish and came in 19th to post the third-best SCAC team performances on Saturday. The Celts were led by sophomore Victoria Ramirez who finished 77th with a time of 24:45.0.
Southwestern University and Texas Lutheran University rounded the SCAC contingent with 21st and 23rd place team finishes, respectively. For the second straight year, the Pirates were paced by sophomore Breanna Steele, who improved on her 128th place finish at the 2022 regional and finished 91st this year in a time of 24:58.5. First-year Mackenzie Combs was the top Bulldog harrier with an 83rd place finish in a time of 24:50.1.
A total of 32 teams will compete as a team at the NCAA Division III Championships, with the top finishing team from each of the 10 regions receiving an automatic bid and 22 bids awarded to at-large teams. In addition, 70 individuals, not on qualifying teams, earn automatic selection based on their finish at the regional.
The team and individual selections will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 12. The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for for Saturday, Nov. 18, in Carlisle, Pa.
