WINGATE, N.C.- Led by freshman Maraya Slatter (Benson, N.C., West Johnston) and bolstered by the collegiate debut of Meagan Nedlo (Mt. Pleasant, Tex., Pittsburg), Queens University of Charlotte's women's cross country team finished runner-up to Columbus State at the NCAA Southeast Region Championship hosted by Wingate University.
The Royals were edged for the title by a single point, 68-69, though both teams picked up automatic berths to the NCAA Championships to be held in Evansville, Indiana November 21. Lees-McRae was third in the 23-team field with 104 points as Georgia College & State University was fourth with 171.
Four Queens harriers earned All-Region honors led by Slatter and her fifth place finish. Slatter managed 23:46 on the tough hilly 6,000-meter (3.728-mile) course passing teammate junior Jessica Neville (Cold Spring, N.Y., Haldane) meters from the finish. Neville finished sixth in 23:49 as senior Nedlo, competing in her first collegiate race due to a preseason injury, was ninth in 24:09. Sophomore Holly Annas (Granite Falls, N.C., South Caldwell) was 14th in 24:26 while freshman Katie Snow (Brewer, Me., Brewer) completed team scoring finishing 36th at 25:36 in the 162-woman field.
“I've said it for just about every meet we've had this season and I have to say it again today,” said coach Scott Simmons. “This was the best women's team performance in school history.”
The Royals will be making their debut at the 24-team NCAA Division II National Championships and are following a similar trajectory as the Royals men's team who earned their first berth in Simmons' first season with the Royals. The men's squad finished a record high 7th at the 2008 championships and are currently ranked 7th nationally.
NCAA Southeast Regional XC Championship
Wingate, NC - November 7, 2009 - Wingate University
Women's Results
6.00 Kilometers
Scoring Teams and Points:
1. Columbus St. 68 (3 4 8 11 42 43 103)
2. Queens (N.C.) 69 (5 6 9 14 35 78 134)
3. Lees-McRae 104 (12 20 21 25 26 50 59)
4. GC&SU 171 (27 28 30 40 46 51 70)
5. Augusta State 190 (7 19 23 69 72 90 93)
6. Montevallo 204 (16 29 34 62 63 91 141)
7. Lenoir-Rhyne 233 (1 22 37 79 94 97 109)
8. Limestone 256 (13 32 49 76 86 125 126)
9. Clayton State 276 (10 41 64 65 96 106)
10. Anderson (S.C.) 293 (2 53 55 56 127 137)
11. Converse 323 (38 39 48 98 100 117 147)
12. Wingate 325 (36 57 61 84 87 133)
13. UNC-Pembroke 338 (33 47 74 89 95 118)
14. Carson-Newman 341 (52 54 75 77 83 101 129)
15. North Georgia 345 (24 58 67 88 108 113 120)
16. Pfeiffer 377 (15 45 71 122 124 132 142)
17. Catawba 389 (17 66 80 110 116 130)
18. Lincoln Memorial 410 (18 82 92 107 111 114 136)
19. S.C.-Aiken 439 (31 44 104 121 139 151)
20. Erskine 483 (73 81 102 112 115 119 123)
21. St. Andrews 577 (60 105 131 135 146 149 150)
22. Mars Hill 610 (85 99 138 143 145)
23. Francis Marion 628 (68 128 140 144 148)
