For the first time in program history, women’s cross country will compete as a team at the 2015 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships, slated for Nov. 21 in Joplin, Mo.
The Vulcans earned the team berth at Nationals on Nov. 7, when they won the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship at Lock Haven University.
This will be the second national championship appearance for junior Julie Friend, who competed individually last year and finished 119th out of 249 runners.
She heads to Joplin this year after placing third at the Atlantic Regionals, with a time of 20:45.8.
Senior Alex Zanella also has prior experience at Nationals. A 2014 redshirt, she qualified in 2013 and finished 100th in a field of 244 runners.
She heads into the championships after a seventh-place finish at the regional contest, where her time was 21:05.6.
Sophomore Summer Hill is making her first appearance at the cross country Nationals after finishing 21st at the regional race.
All three Vulcans earned all-region honors for finishing among the top 25.
Also competing for the first time will be freshmen Alyson Pierce and Maddie Thrasher, senior Alison Kimble, and junior Shannon Bridges.
The times scored by the team’s top five finishers will be used in the team standings.