Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 11
Columbia, Mo.
Northwestern
at
NCAA Regional Championships
Photo by: Alec Cohen/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Earn First NCAA XC Championships Berth In 20 Years
11/11/2022 1:29:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern finishes Top-2 at the NCAA Midwest Regional to earn invite to Stillwater
COLUMBIA, Missouri - For the first time in two decades Northwestern is headed to the premier event in collegiate cross country. The Wildcats earned a Top-2 finish at Friday's NCAA Midwest Regional to claim an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships next weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
RESULTS: 2022 NCAA XC Midwest Regional
NCAA Division I Cross Country Record Book
"I couldn't be more proud of this team," head coach Jill Miller said after the race. "Not just for how they competed today, but how they support each other every day and, in turn, battle for one another out in competition. Our goal always has been to make history and return this program to the national championships and they did just that. Now it's time to get recovered and ready to race again in 8 days!"
As she has so many times this season senior Rachel McCardell led the way for the 'Cats, finishing 8th (20:22.1) and knocking more than eight seconds off her time run on the same 6K Gans Creek course in September. She was followed closely by Ari Marks (13th, 20:29.4), Kalea Bartolotto (15th, 20:31.0), Ava Earl (25th, 20:44.2) and Anna Hightower (27th, 20:46.4) in the scoring quintet, good for 88 points, 11 ahead of third-place Bradley. In recognition of their Top-25 finishes, McCardell, Bartolotto, Marks and Earl took home All-Midwest Region honors.
The 2022 Championships will be the third appearance in program history for Northwestern, as the team previously competed in 1985 and 2002. Through the years the Wildcats have been represented by individuals at the event, including McCardell last year in Tallahassee, Florida.
RESULTS: 2022 NCAA XC Midwest Regional
NCAA Division I Cross Country Record Book
"I couldn't be more proud of this team," head coach Jill Miller said after the race. "Not just for how they competed today, but how they support each other every day and, in turn, battle for one another out in competition. Our goal always has been to make history and return this program to the national championships and they did just that. Now it's time to get recovered and ready to race again in 8 days!"
As she has so many times this season senior Rachel McCardell led the way for the 'Cats, finishing 8th (20:22.1) and knocking more than eight seconds off her time run on the same 6K Gans Creek course in September. She was followed closely by Ari Marks (13th, 20:29.4), Kalea Bartolotto (15th, 20:31.0), Ava Earl (25th, 20:44.2) and Anna Hightower (27th, 20:46.4) in the scoring quintet, good for 88 points, 11 ahead of third-place Bradley. In recognition of their Top-25 finishes, McCardell, Bartolotto, Marks and Earl took home All-Midwest Region honors.
The 2022 Championships will be the third appearance in program history for Northwestern, as the team previously competed in 1985 and 2002. Through the years the Wildcats have been represented by individuals at the event, including McCardell last year in Tallahassee, Florida.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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