ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The NCAA Division II East Regional Championships unfolded almost perfectly on Saturday for the Roberts Wesleyan University women's cross country team.
The Redhawks placed four runners in the top 13 to finish first and qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships on Nov. 23 at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, Calif.
Roberts totaled 71 points, Southern Connecticut State was second with 107 and Daemen placed third with 118.
The Regional championship is the second for Roberts, which also won in 2014 and has qualified for nationals in 10 straight seasons. The victory was made even sweeter because it was accomplished on the Redhawks' home course.
"There are a lot of things that really add to it for us," Roberts Director of Cross Country & Track and Field
Andrew Dorr said. "We love hosting and being able to do it here means that we get to do it in front of people that love to see it."
Rachel Horner-Richardson finished second to lead Roberts. Horner-Richardson covered the 6K course in 22:02.5 and was surrounded by well-wishers after the race.
"It's pretty amazing, especially having everyone that we know here like our families and friends," Horner-Richardson said. "It's just amazing to have them watch us compete."
"Rachel ran really well," Dorr said. "She was right where we needed to be and she ran a great race."
Senior
Kylee Odell (22:14.1) placed seventh while junior
Lydia Roselund (22:16.4) took 10
th and freshman
Paige Reeser (22:28.7) fought through an injury to finish 13
th. Horner-Richardson, Odell, Roselund and Reeser each earned All-Region recognition.
"We needed our top four to deliver," Dorr said. "Paige came in dinged up from the last week, but she delivered even though she had plenty of excuses not to.
Evelyn Schmit, our No. 5 runner, had a job and she executed it like an upperclassmen, even though she is just a brand new freshman."
Schmit, who finished 39
th in 23:44.7, gained several spots in the late stages of the race to protect the Redhawks' lead.
Horner-Richardson said the contributions of her teammates, including first-year runners like Reeser and Schmit, is valued and appreciated.
"That just makes the load lighter, knowing that they are succeeding," Horner-Richardson.
And now, that success will take them to California.
