Friday, November 15
Peoria, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
at
NCAA Midwest Regional
Photo by: Walt Middleton/Northwestern Athletics
Trio Of ‘Cats Bring Home All-Region Honors At NCAA Midwest Regional
11/15/2024 12:30:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern places third in team standings
PEORIA, Ill. (November 15, 2024) – Ava Earl, Chloe Wellings, and Ava Criniti secured United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region distinction as Northwestern cross country placed third overall at the NCAA Midwest Region this morning in Peoria, Ill.
Paced by its trio of All-Region honorees, Northwestern earned its third straight top-three finish at the regional meet, totaling 103 points. Oklahoma State (61 points) and Minnesota (76 points) finished first and second, respectively, to secure automatic bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, while Oklahoma's Leah Jeruto ran 19:42.87 to bring home medalist honors.
Earl was the first Wildcat across the finish line at Bradley University's Newman Golf Course. The Girdwood, Alaska native clocked in at 20:03.7 to finish eighth overall as she earned her third consecutive USTFCCCA All-Region nod. Wellings was hot on Earl's heels, coming in just over a half-second back with a 6k personal-best 20:04.3 to collect All-Region accolades for the first time in her career.
Criniti added another chapter to her first year in the Northwestern lineup, surging through in 20:30.5 as she joined Earl and Wellings as All-Region selections by virtue of a 25th-place finish.
Katherine Hessler and Holly Smith were separated by less than a second on the final leaderboard. Hessler ran 20:36.0 to finish 30th, while Smith checked in 31st at 20:36.9. Making the first regional appearance of her career, Jackie Holman came through 47th in 20:50.5. Maddy Whitman rounded out the Wildcat contingent in 78th, running 21:14.1.
The full field, including at-large individual berths, for the NCAA Cross Country Championships will be announced on the NCAA Cross Country Selection Show at 4 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, November 16 on NCAA.com.
Gallery: (11-15-2024) Cross Country at NCAA Midwest Regional
Paced by its trio of All-Region honorees, Northwestern earned its third straight top-three finish at the regional meet, totaling 103 points. Oklahoma State (61 points) and Minnesota (76 points) finished first and second, respectively, to secure automatic bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, while Oklahoma's Leah Jeruto ran 19:42.87 to bring home medalist honors.
Earl was the first Wildcat across the finish line at Bradley University's Newman Golf Course. The Girdwood, Alaska native clocked in at 20:03.7 to finish eighth overall as she earned her third consecutive USTFCCCA All-Region nod. Wellings was hot on Earl's heels, coming in just over a half-second back with a 6k personal-best 20:04.3 to collect All-Region accolades for the first time in her career.
Criniti added another chapter to her first year in the Northwestern lineup, surging through in 20:30.5 as she joined Earl and Wellings as All-Region selections by virtue of a 25th-place finish.
Katherine Hessler and Holly Smith were separated by less than a second on the final leaderboard. Hessler ran 20:36.0 to finish 30th, while Smith checked in 31st at 20:36.9. Making the first regional appearance of her career, Jackie Holman came through 47th in 20:50.5. Maddy Whitman rounded out the Wildcat contingent in 78th, running 21:14.1.
The full field, including at-large individual berths, for the NCAA Cross Country Championships will be announced on the NCAA Cross Country Selection Show at 4 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, November 16 on NCAA.com.
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
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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