Official Results

PELLA, Iowa - The Bethel University women's cross country team finished in 20th place Saturday at the Central Region Championships held in Pella, Iowa while sophomore standout Annika Halverson earned her second trip to the NCAA National Championship meet with an 8th place finish. Halverson's time of  22:39 was six seconds ahead of the ninth place finish as she was one of just two under classmen in the top nine. Halverson also finished in eighth place at last year's Region meet as she will now head to the NCAA Division III National Championships next Saturday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

"This women's region is just loaded with All-Americans and track national champions and for Annika to run that well, I am really proud of her," said Bethel head coach Joe Stephens. "She competed with intensity in the middle of the race and ran a complete race. She didn't quit when it got hard and I am proud of her for that."

The young Royals team, comprised of three sophomores, three freshman and a junior in the top seven, finished in 20th place. Sophomores Lindsay Johnson and Emmy Inwards posted times of 25:11 and 25:23 as the second and third Bethel runners. Freshman Rebekah Schulte was next up for Bethel at 25:40 while junior Natalie Kessler rounded out the scoring for Bethel with a time of 26:15. A pair of freshman were the Royals sixth and seventh runners in Bailey Meyer (26:15) and Lydia Herath (26:24).

"It has been a long season for our young ladies but it is going to be a bright future because they are tough and are hard workers," said coach Stephens. "I am optimistic for the future with this group and they are fun to coach."