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LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Anna Igims won the individual title and the Slippery Rock University women's cross country team took second at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships Saturday from the West Branch XC Course at Lock Haven University, locking up a trip to the NCAA National Championships.
 
Igims became the first SRU female distance runner in program history to win an NCAA Division II regional title when she ran away from the field over the second half of the 6,000-meter course to cross the line in 20:35. The regional title follows the PSAC individual title she claimed two weeks ago and kept her season streak of not being beaten by any Division II runners alive.
 
The Rock narrowly missed out on the team title with Davis & Elkins edging SRU by just seven points for the team title with 93 points. The Rock finished second with 100 points and East Stroudsburg claimed the third NCAA qualifying spot with 114 points. Defending champion Charleston was fourth with 150 points and Shippensburg rounded out the top five with 156 points. A total of 22 teams recorded a score in the event.
 
Igims led a trio of SRU runners to All-Region honors for finishing in the top 25. Her first place finish marked her third career All-Region award in cross country and her third straight top 10 finish at the regional meet.
 
Ruthie Hughes picked up her second straight All-Region honor with a career-best ninth place finish in 21:13 and Jennifer Cichra earned her first career All-Region award with a career-best 17th place showing in 21:44.
 
Maddie Grillo was the fourth SRU scorer in 37th place in 22:17 and Carissa Flynn rounded out the point scorers in 40th place in 22:21.
 
Tatiana Holt was 54th in 22:33 and Hannah Burgoon was 76th in 22:58 to round out the seven SRU entries in the meet.
 
Slippery Rock will make its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA National Championships after qualifying in 2023 as well. The trip to nationals will be just the fifth time in program history that the SRU women have qualified as a team, joining the 1993, 1995, 2008 and 2023 squads.
 
The National Championships are set for Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California.
 
SRU RESULTS – ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Anna Igims – 20:35 (Champion, All-Region)
9. Ruthie Hughes – 21:13 (All-Region)
17. Jennifer Cichra – 21:44 (All-Region)
37. Maddie Grillo – 22:17
40. Carissa Flynn – 22:21
54. Tatiana Holt – 22:33
76. Hannah Burgoon – 22:58



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