ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – In a tough field at the 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday, the No. 8 Washington University in St. Louis women's cross country team finished as the runner-up among the 28 teams competing.
The 6k course was held at the Saukie Golf Course and hosted by Augustana.
No. 4 Chicago took home the team title with 36 points. The Bears followed with 82 points, strong enough ahead of third place Wartburg with 127 points. Central finished in fourth place with 152 points while Illinois Wesleyan rounded out the top five in fifth place, totaling 197 points.
The first four WashU runners to cross the finish line did so in consecutive order, with only .1 seconds separating them. Senior Julia Patterson was officially the first to cross at 22:08.8 in 14th place. Her twin sister Abby Patterson had an identical time down to the tenth of a second and finished 15th. Junior Katie Rector was 16th with a time of 22:08.9, the same time that classmate Jillian Heth finished with, who was credited crossing in 17th place.
The final Bear to score points was first-year Lucinda Laughlin in 20th place with a time of 22:19.9. Right behind her in 21st place was senior Sophie Bekins with a mark of 22:21.0
WashU will next compete in one week on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the NCAA National Championships. This year's race will be taking place at the Lavern Gibson XC Course in Terre Haute, Ind. The Bears have already competed twice on the course at the John McNichols Invite and the Nike XC Meet Twilight.
