EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Embry-Riddle women's cross country team competed at the NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday morning at Angel Mounds. The University of Southern Indiana and the Evansville Sports Corporation served as the co-hosts of the championships. The Eagles finished in 26^th in the final meet of 2017.
 
Embry-Riddle 26th of 32 teams 
This was the first time in program history that the Eagles would compete for an NCAA II National Championship as ERAU finished in 26^th place with a team score of 697. Adams State won the National Championship with a team score of 126. University of Mary (137) and Cal Baptist (148) rounded out the top three. Fellow Sunshine State Athletic Conference member Saint Leo University finished just ahead of the Eagles as the Lions placed 21^st (555). Embry-Riddle placed better than Lee University, who finished 31^st, even though the Flames finished one spot ahead of the Eagles at the NCAA II South Regional Championship on Nov. 4^th. Senior Caroline Kurgat of Alaska Anchorage won the meet with a time of 20:32.3. Sarah Berger of Walsh (20:51.10) and Natalie Rodriguez of Cal St. San Marcos (20:53.70) rounded out the top three. Colett Rampf of Saint Leo finished eighth (21:08.10).
 
The Eagles
ERAU had one runner place in the top 100, as sophomore Sarah Edens was the top finisher for the Blue and Gold. Edens finished 78^th with a time of 22:17.70. Junior Alex Orr was the next top finisher for the Eagles as she finished in 144^th with a time of 22:59.80. Freshmen Kristen Metcalfe finished 157^th (23:07.30), sophomore Mikaela Hakamaa finished 208^th (23:55.80), senior Marina LeVine finished 217^th (24:06.60), junior Nicole Kvitkauskas finished 223^rd (24:31.90) and freshmen Maggie Allen finished 237^th (25:06.6). 
 
Rosolino's Remarks 
"Our women ran a tough solid race today, especially Sarah who had really had a great race. This race was like nothing else that we had experienced all year with the number of teams and the quality of competition all around us. I thought our women stepped up to the challenge and pushed throughout the race to compete. It was a challenging field. I am so proud of this group of women and all that they accomplished this year: a conference title, a third place finish at regionals and 26th at nationals. It was a great ending to a phenomenal first season in the NCAA."