JOPLIN, Mo. - For the seventh consecutive year, both Augustana men and women cross country teams have qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship. The meet took place on Saturday in Joplin, Mo. at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.

The seventh-ranked men's team claimed its fourth straight Regional Championship, defeating East Central University 82-104, while the 12th ranked women came in third behind Minnesota Duluth and regional champion Southwest Baptist. This is the 10th consecutive year the women's team has qualified for nationals.

"The NCAA Regionals [are] always a tough battle," head coach Tracy Hellman said. "I was very pleased with how both teams performed."

Three runners from the men's side placed in the top-10 at the regional championship. Keegan Carda led the Vikings for the third time this season, placing fourth. This was Carda's highest regional championship finish in his career. He crossed the line in  30:18.16.

"I was really happy with how I raced today," Carda said. "I feel like my fitness is definitely coming around. We have always considered ourselves a November team and our hard work is paying off."  

Glen Ellingson continues his impressive postseason run, finishing sixth, with a time of 30:28.28. Harald Karbo finished strong as well, coming in ninth overall with a time of 30:58.68.

Nick Larsen, in his first regional championship race, came in 28th with a time of 31:39.64. Jonas Gjesdal was the Vikings fifth runner recording a 35th place finish with a time of 31:48.10.

Logan Burns finished the meet in 53rd with a time of 32:04.15 while Nathan Schroeder finished 69th at 32:25.86 in what was his first race of the season.

"The men had a great team race today," Hellman said. "The men are in position to finish the year with a great national finish."           

Leah Seivert raced second for most of the meet but dropped one spot late ending the race with a third-place finish to lead the Augustana women. Seivert finishing the regional meet in 20:29.84, which was 21 seconds behind Regional Champion Alexis Zeis (20.08.31) of NSIC foe, U-Mary.

Annie Kruse and Mackenzie Kelly were neck and neck with each other the whole race, finishing back-to-back in 12th and 13th place. Kruse came in with a time of 21.31.71, while Kelly clocked in at 21.31.77, finishing as the top freshmen in the meet.

Courtney Hottovy came in 39th after crossing the finish line at 21.31.06. Carly Bauer was Augustana's No. 5 runner, coming in 50th with a time of 22.38.21. Emma Anderson was 74th (23.14.40) and Ida Elvertagg finished 103rd (23.47.82).

"We ran a much better race today than at the NSIC Championship," Hellman said. "This is a great springboard for the NCAA Championship. What is also impressive is that our women qualified for the 10th straight year."

Carda, Ellingson, Karbo, Seivert, Kruse and Kelly were all named to the NCAA All-Central Region team.

The Vikings will conclude its season on Nov. 21 as they will compete in the NCAA Championship in Joplin, Mo.