2019 NCAA Central Region Championships

WAVERLY, Iowa – Grinnell College's cross country teams will attempt to follow up their Midwest Conference championship performances with strong efforts at the NCAA Division III Central Region Championships Saturday.
 
The men's 8-kilometer race is slated for 11 a.m., with the women's 6-kilometer event following at noon. The races will be contested on Wartburg College's Max Championship Course.
 
The top two teams and seven individuals not on qualifying teams automatically qualify for the NCAA D-III National Championships in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 23. Additional at-large qualifiers for nationals will be determined Sunday.
 
Grinnell's women had five All-MWC performers at the league meet, each finishing in the top of 11, while compiling 31 points. Mikayla Fujiwara '20, an All-Region performer last season, led the way at the MWC meet with a second-place finish. Ally Cottrell '21 was third, Emma Schaefer '22 placed sixth, Madeleine Breunig '20 was ninth and Tori LaVerdiere '20 took 11th.
 
On the men's side, Grinnell won the MWC title with 65 points and was paced by league Newcomer of the Year Andrew Nickeson's '23 fourth-place finish. Others earning All-MW honors were Matthew Phipps '20 (sixth place), Matt Lieberman '21 (ninth) and John Osler '20 (11th).