OAKWOOD, Ga. – The Flagler College women's cross country team earned their spot to the NCAA Division II National Championship with a third place finish at the Southeast Regional meet this morning at UNG Cross Country Course.

The finish has been a major goal for the Saints as they fell one spot short last season of the automatic qualifying. This will be the fourth time in the program history that the team advances to the national championship, after Monique Whiteman earned an individual bid last year to compete. All seven runners for Flagler finished in the top 50 out of the 164 athletes competing.

Five Saints earned all-region honors by finishing in the top 25. Megan Churchill led the pack and had the best finish for Flagler in the 6K with a time of 22:05.3 that earned her a ninth place finish. She was the only female runner for the Saints to finish in the top ten. Behind her was Whiteman in 12th place with a time of 22:19.1. The Peach Belt individual champion, Amber Schulz, finished next with a time of 22:40.3 and Enola Savel was right behind her with a time of 22:42.9, earning 21st and 22nd respectively. Rounding out the top 25 was Chloe Smith who earned the all-region honor in 25th place with a time of 22:48.0.
 
Abby Misch finished in 35th place with a time of 23:02.6 and Monika Kubai closed out the runners for the Saints in 43rd with a time of 23:16.8.

Joining the Saints in Joplin, Mo. (Nov. 18) at the NCAA Division II National Championship from the Southeast Region are Wingate University and Catawba College. Wingate finished with a team total of 30 points, Catawba with 53 and Flagler with 85.
  
The top three teams from each region advance and the top three individuals from teams not advancing will qualify to compete in the national meet.
 
Top 10 Team Results:
1. Wingate University (30)
2. Catawba College (53)
3. Flagler College (85)
4. Lenoir-Rhyne University (143)
5. Anderson University (146)
6. Converse College (204)
7. University of North Georgia (207)
8. Lincoln Memorial University (216)
9. Carson-Newman University (238)
10. Augusta University (277)
 
Flagler Individual Results:
9. Megan Churchill (22:05.3)
12. Monique Whiteman (22:19.1)
21. Amber Schulz (22:40.3)
22. Enola Savel (22:42.9)
25. Chloe Smith (22:48.0)
35. Abby Misch (23:02.6)
43. Monika Kubai (23:16.8)
 
CONNECT WITH THE SAINTS: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube
DOWNLOAD TEAM SCHEDULES: Download Center
FOLLOW YOUR FAVORITE SAINTS TEAM: Sign up for Newsletter