2024 NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championship Preview: Women’s Cross Country

11/14/2024 4:46:00 PM | By: Ella Julien, Staff Writer

Women's Cross Country Set To Take Part In 2024 NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships In Shelbyville, Indiana

SHELBYVILLE, IN – After another winning performance at the OAC Championships, the Blue Streaks are gearing up to continue their postseason run at the 2024 NCAA DIII Great Lakes Regional Championships this weekend. The meet will be held at the Blue River Cross Country Course, the future site of the 2027 DIII National Championships. The women's 6k will start at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 16th.

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After a strong campaign in 2023, the Blue Streaks are focused on securing their spot at the 2024 NCAA DIII Cross Country National Championships. Last season, the women finished fourth in the region.

The Blue Streaks are led by a strong pack. Senior Annie Higgins returns after earning All-Region honors last year, finishing 21st overall at the regional meet. Higgins has been a consistent scorer for the Blue Streaks, and her experience will be valuable this weekend. Junior Abby Schroff, another key contributor, also earned All-Region honors last season, placing 11th overall. Schroff has been a leader all year, and after an impressive OAC performance, she is seeking another strong showing at regionals. Alyssa Vis has emerged as an important part of the squad in her second collegiate cross country season.
The junior has been impressive from the start and continues to be a valuable addition to the top group.

Senior Ellie Kitsmiller's leadership and championship experience make her an athlete to watch as the Blue Streaks push for a national bid. Freshman Anne Rea has found her groove quickly, setting personal bests week after week. Sarah Weldon, in her final cross country season, is eager to leave a lasting impact on the program.

Cassie Klein is making her championship debut after a great season filled with consistent performances. Senior Anastasia Bakuhn's wisdom and experience will be valued in the postseason squad. Amanda Keim will be a leader for the women in the postseason, as she has contributed multiple times at the regional and national levels.

Daniel Tutskey, Director of Cross Country/Track & Field is excited about where the women stack against the best teams in the region heading into the weekend and talks about how the women fell short last year in trying to qualify. "A year ago, our women endured disappointment not qualifying out of Regionals for the NCAA Championships," mentioned Tutskey. "That has been the undertone of this season and year long mission this group of young ladies has been running towards. It won't be easy, but this group is trending in the right direction."

Teams to look out for this weekend are the Calvin Knights, who have been ranked first in the region for the last six weeks. The Calvin women won the regional title last year with a total score of 90 points. Depauw is another team that has been consistent in the top three all year as they look to get back to the national meet this year after winning their first NCAC conference title a couple of weeks ago. Trine University rounds up that top four as they look to secure a spot at the national championships after posting impressive finishes this year.

With a strong performance for the Blue Streaks this weekend, the women hope to punch their ticket to nationals for the fourth time in program history.

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