The #22 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth women's cross country team will compete in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Friday (December 2nd) in Seattle, WA.
The 2022 NCAA Division II NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place in Seattle, Washington on Friday, December 2 at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, WA. Seattle Pacific University will serve as the host. The men's race will begin at 12:00 p.m. Central, followed by the women's race at 1:15 p.m. Central. Thirty-four teams were selected to participate in the championship. The top three, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the eight regions, for a total of 24 teams. Ten additional teams were selected at-large. A minimum of 24 additional individuals were selected to participate in each championship through an automatic qualifier and at-large selection process. The Bulldogs received an at-large selection after finishing in sixth place at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.
Last Time Out
The #20 University of Minnesota Duluth women's cross country program finished in sixth place at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships in Joplin, MO. Three of the top five Bulldog finishers landed in the top 20.
UMD was led by senior Cailee Peterson who finished in 8th place (20:34.3 - personal best). Bulldogs Maddie Verkerke (13th place - 20:53.2 - personal best) and Julia Nielsen (16th place - 21:08.0 - personal best) crossed the finish line next for the Bulldogs. The remaining top seven Bulldogs finished in 43rd place (Franny Seidel - 21:49.4 - personal best), 74th place (Morgan Radel - 22:29.0), and 83rd place (Elizabeth VanLoon - 22:33.1 - personal best) and 101st place (Savannah Schley - 22:51.3).
Accolades
The Bulldogs earned numerous post season accolades following the NSIC Conference Championships as well as the NCAA Central Region Championships. UMD was led by senior Cailee Peterson who finished in 6th place and earned NSIC first team all-conference honors. Bulldogs Maddie Verkerke (10th place) and Julia Nielsen (11th place) finished back-to-back for NSIC second team all-conference honors. Senior Morgan Radel (Elite 18 Award Winner) finished in 21st place at the conference championships. Not to out done at the NSIC Championships, Cailee Peterson, Maddie Verkerke and Julia Nielsen turned in NCAA central all-region performances.
How to Follow
Bulldog fans can follow this weekend's championship meet live online.
Championship Party
Join the UMD cross country teams and supporters in the UMD Sports and Health Center (room 39) on Friday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM for a Championship race live stream watch party.
The Line-Up
The seven Bulldogs leading the charge this Friday will be Cailee Peterson, Maddie Verkerke, Julia Nielsen, Franny Seidel, Morgan Radel, Elizabeth VanLoon, and Savannah Schley.
Double Digit Appearances
The UMD women's cross country team will making their 11th NCAA Division II Championship appearance this week. The Bulldogs have finished in the top 10 six times, with their highest finish being a third place team finish in 2014. The Bulldogs finished 26th at last year's championships.
Tough Competition
The NCAA Division II Championships consists of the 34 top teams in the country. The USTFCCCA national polls currently have the UMD women's team ranked #22.
Setting the Pace
UMD has seen personal best times fall during the course of this year. The women's team has seen 70% of the team set personal bests in the 6k. Five of the Bulldogs top seven runners from the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships all set personal bests.
Elite Company
Morgan Radel of the University of Minnesota Duluth was named the 2022 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women's cross country. Radel was presented the award during the post championship ceremony at the NSIC Cross Country Championships, which were held at Wayne Country Club in Wayne, Nebraska. This is the second NSIC Elite 18 Award for Radel, who also won the award for Indoor Track & Field last winter.
For season results (men) (women).
