SIOUX FALLS, SD – A dominating effort by the University of Mary women's cross country team left no doubt in anyone's mind that the Marauders are the best squad in the region. Ranked third in the nation, Mary won its first-ever NCAA regional title by 34 points over Minnesota Duluth, the 4
th-ranked team in the country.
Alexis Zeis headlined the Marauders efforts as the defending national champion won her second straight NCAA Central Region individual title.
By winning the regional championship, the Marauders automatically qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships in St. Leo, FL, on Nov. 19. This is the second straight year and the sixth time since 2009 that Mary will run as a team at the national championships.
"This group of women have shown their strength time and time again this season by continuing their undefeated year with another historical win today at the 2016 NCAA Central Region Cross Country Championships," said Marauders Head Coach
Dennis Newell. "Through ups and downs, this group of women continue to find different ways to do their job. No matter what the individual situation may be on that day with illness or injury or frustration, this team adjusts as a whole to show why they are truly the 3
rd-ranked team in the NCAA. We now move forward to the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Saint Leo in 14 days. Consistency in our preparation will need to be even more calculated with a precise effort towards the smallest of details and variables."
Two weeks after taking second at the Northern Sun championships – the first meet Zeis had failed to win since 2014 – the Bismarck, ND, native dominated the regional race. Zeis set a Yankton Trail Park course record with a time of 19:43.84 and won the event by 9.98 seconds.
"Lexi demonstrated why she is one of the best cross country runners in the country," said Newell. "She is a gifted athlete, a team orientated individual and a strong competitor with those around her and herself. Lexi holds herself and those around her, including myself, to a high standard of performance. These types of characteristics are what helps to make her a fierce competitor and a great leader for our women's team."
As a squad, the Marauders placed five runners in the top 27 finishers and four claimed All-Region honors.
All-American
Ida Narbuvoll placed third overall, behind Zeis and NSIC champion Emilee Trost of Minnesota Duluth, with a time of 20:14.75. In her first NCAA regional, freshman
Kate Fox claimed 11
th in 21:11.33. Not far off the pace was
Jaiden Schuette, who snared 20
th.
By placing in the top 20, Zeis, Narbuvoll, Fox and Schuette each earned All-Region honors.
Rounding out the scoring for the Marauders was
Kaycie Stewart, crossing the line in 27
th pace.
Additionally,
Emma Hafdahl was 47
th in 22:08.53 and
Rebekkah Bond was 98
th (23:04.59) out of 211 runners.
The Marauders registered 60 points, easily outpacing Minnesota Duluth's second place finish with 94 points. Southwest Baptist (121) and Fort Hays State (143) claimed third and fourth place at the regional and will also advance as a team to the NCAA championships. Thirty-two teams total competed for the four slots for nationals.
Mary previously competed at the NCAA Championships in 2009 through 2012 and in 2015. The Marauders finished 12
th at nationals last season. The squad's best finish was fifth in 2011.
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