NCAA WXC Selections: Wingate and Catawba Earn Team Bids; Anderson's Schmitt Goes as Individual

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- The NCAA announced the teams and individuals that earned a spot at the national meet which will take place in Sacramento, Calif. in a little under two weeks. The SAC was represented by two teams and an individual.

The No. 7 Wingate University women's cross country team had four student-athletes finish in the top eight as the Bulldogs claimed their third consecutive NCAA Division II Southeast Region championship at the Milliken Research Park Saturday. Bulldog senior Mia Cabrera finished second, thanks to her personal-best time of 21:09.5.
 
A transfer from California Baptist, Cabrera led the 2-4-6-8 finish for the South Atlantic Conference champions. Wingate freshman Firdaouss Hriche claimed fourth place with a personal-best time of 21:27.1. Interestingly enough, Hriche finished fourth on the same course during September's Southeast Region preview.

Catawba also clinched a spot to nationals with a third-place finish.  They were paced by three-time SAC Runner of the Year Madison Clay who finished in third place overall with a time of 21:16.1. The Catawba Indians had three runners in the top 10 as Clay was joined by Hannah Caudill and Natalie Almond who finished ninth and 10th respectively. 

Anderson's Lucy Schmitt qualified for nationals as an individual thanks to her seventh-place finish at the regional meet. Schmitt crossed the finish line in 21:41.8.