FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Complete Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Nov. 13, 2010)-- Amanda Laesch finished third overall, punching her ticket to next weekend's National Championships as the North Central College women's cross country squad finished sixth at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Saturday at the Saukie Golf Course.

The Cardinals, ranked 32nd nationally, scored 182 points to finish sixth overall at the 38-team meet. 14th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire captured its third straight regional title, scoring 85 points with fifth-ranked Washington University in Saint Louis (93 points) finishing runner-up.

The University of Chicago's Elizabeth Lawton secured top individual honors, finishing the 6,000-meter course in 20:57.2. Laesch was the top finishing Cardinal competitor, traversing the course in 21:29.8 to finish third overall among a field of 263 competitors. Her finish assures her one of the seven individual qualifier spots for the national meet for the second straight season.

Kala Bingham finished 30th in 22:29.2 while Alicia Zimmerman placed 46th, crossing the tape in 22:49.3. Lauren Hooks, Sarah Ahn and Amanda Marek all finished within two seconds of each other, Hooks placed 51st in 22:53.0 while Ahn was one spot back in 52nd in 22:54.8. Marek was two spots back in 54th place, finishing in 22:55.2 while Krista Cota was 66th, clocking a 23:14.9.

Laesch will travel to Waverly, Iowa next Saturday for the NCAA Division III National Championships hosted by Wartburg College at the Max Cross Country Course. The women's race is slated to begin at 12 p.m.