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Rockhurst University Athletics

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Women's Cross Country

Women's Cross Country will run in first-ever NCAA Regional

For the first time in school history, the Rockhurst women's cross country team will be competing in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championships on Saturday.

The Hawks will be taking their top seven runners to Evansville, Indiana to run on the Angel Mounds six-kilometer course.

Rockhurst ran on the same course two weeks ago when they finished fourth at the GLVC Championships. The Hawks battled challenging conditions (rain and mud) that day in Indiana.

Coach Kathy Strecker, who started the program in 2013, wanted to finish in the top five or six at the GLVC Championships.

"Our previous best finish (at the GLVC meet) was eighth," Strecker said. "I was hopeful for top five so I was really excited when we got fourth."

Rockhurst's top four runners finished among the top 33 finishers at the conference meet. Sarah Harig, Emily Dickson, Hannah Schaefer and Maggie Moyer each ran their personal best times to help lift the Hawks into the top four.

Harig's time of 23:23 was two seconds shy of the school record set by Anna O'Malley in 2017.

"We talked about them not making excuses," Strecker said. "We worked on the mental preparation for it for two weeks. Another key is to have everybody run their best on the same day. And they did that.

"Everyone knew how important it was to pass everyone they could. We were close to seventh (as a team), so every person they passed was important."

Lauren DeWitt, Ellan Harder and Kathleen Gansner round out the top seven runners for Rockhurst. DeWitt's strong finish as the Hawks' fifth runner secured the team's fourth-place finish in the GLVC meet.

"In cross country, it's all about team and everybody placing as low as they can. They've really stepped up and worked hard together," Strecker said. "Every meet they've gotten stronger and they've closed the gaps. They are a great group. I love working with them. They push each other every day."

The top three teams at regionals will advance to the NCAA II National Championships, which are Nov. 23 in Sacramento, California, while the top two individuals, or all individuals in the top five, who are not on an advancing team automatically qualify for nationals as well. The remaining teams and individuals will have to await word on whether they are among the 10 teams, nationwide, that receive an at-large bid.

Strecker said the familiarity of the course on Saturday will benefit her team. "It's two 3K loops. We were running through a lot of puddles (at the GLVC meet) so I was really proud of them for running their best times. I think we surprised people. We will need to step up again."
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Players Mentioned

Emily Dickson

Emily Dickson

5' 4"
Sophomore
Kathleen Gansner

Kathleen Gansner

5' 8"
Junior
Ellan Harder

Ellan Harder

5' 6"
Junior
Maggie Moyer

Maggie Moyer

5' 6"
Sophomore
Hannah Schaefer

Hannah Schaefer

5' 7"
Junior
Lauren DeWitt

Lauren DeWitt

5' 11"
Freshman
Sarah Harig

Sarah Harig

5' 5"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Emily Dickson

Emily Dickson

5' 4"
Sophomore
Kathleen Gansner

Kathleen Gansner

5' 8"
Junior
Ellan Harder

Ellan Harder

5' 6"
Junior
Maggie Moyer

Maggie Moyer

5' 6"
Sophomore
Hannah Schaefer

Hannah Schaefer

5' 7"
Junior
Lauren DeWitt

Lauren DeWitt

5' 11"
Freshman
Sarah Harig

Sarah Harig

5' 5"
Graduate Student