MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- For the first time in program history, nationally 18th-ranked Washington and Lee University won the women's race at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship hosted by Rhodes College at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn.
The Generals collected just 36 points in topping Emory University (85) handily. The University of Lynchburg (254) and Shenandoah University (307) were the next two ODAC squads in the team chart in sixth and ninth places, respectively. In the men's competition, Washington and Lee and Lynchburg finished third and fourth with 116 and 139 points. Emory (41) and Berea College (94) claimed the first two spots. Roanoke College (514) placed 19th as the third ODAC team in the table.
The top two teams in each region earn automatic qualification to their respective 32-team NCAA championship fields. In addition to the 16 automatic qualifiers, the NCAA Division III Cross Country Committee will select 16 at-large squads. Those at-large picks do not have region designation assigned to them like the automatic entries. Washington and Lee and Lynchburg would be the first two under consideration for a berth on the men's side, while Lynchburg would need Trinity University (Texas) and Christopher Newport University to earn at-large bids on the women's side for it to receive consideration.
In terms of individual qualifiers, the top-seven competitors not on an advancing team (automatic and at-large) will receive entry to the national championships. Those 56 individuals plus the 224 runners from the team entries make up the dual 280-person fields. The national races will be hosted by Spalding University and the Louisville Sports Commission at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, November 23.
The complete championship fields will be posted on www.ncaa.com no later than 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 17.
RELATED: South/Southeast Regional Results
In the women's competition, three individuals will join Washington and Lee's squad in the national field. The Generals' Sara Stephenson (21:37.5) and Katie Harris (21:40.9) finished second and third, respectively, following their treks on the six-kilometer championship course. Lynchburg's Stephanie Burnett (21:40.9) earns one at-large spot after placing fourth, while Bridgewater's English Jackson (21:49.9) will be 1-of-2 Eagles in the national field after stopping the watches sixth. Her teammate, Calista Ariel (22:02.6), claims the ODAC's final automatic bid after placing ninth, just a few seconds behind W&L's Katie Bearup (21:56.5) in eighth position.
An additional five ODAC women's competitors earned All-Region recognition as runners that placed inside the event's top-35. W&L's Julia Moody (22:09.5) and Avery Schiffman (22:30.8) placed 12th and 16th, while Shenandoah's Emily Miller (22:39.1) and Sarah Mann (22:47.4) placed 20th and 23rd. Lynchburg's Michela Cholak (22:57.7) caps the ODAC's all-region contingent in 31st place.
On the men's side, two runners earn automatic selections regardless of the team status for Washington and Lee and Lynchburg. The Hornets' Max Sparks backed up his ODAC Championship top finish much like W&L's Stephenson on the women's side as Sparks placed second overall (25:07.0) following competition on the men's eight-kilometer track. Virginia Wesleyan University's Skyler Lattuca (25:29.8) picks up the other individual bid after placing 12th overall.
Nine total men's runners earned all-region nods for their performances in Memphis. Washington and Lee's Daniel Cope (25:33.3) finished 13th, while Lynchburg's Shawn Gmurek (25:46.2) crossed the line 19th. The next four all-region standouts each don Generals' colors -- Drew Woodfolk (21st - 25:49.5), Ethan Bernstein (23rd - 25:53.7), Freddie Marx (26th - 25:55.9), and Austin Kinne (33rd - 26:09.2). Lynchburg's Reid Sharkey (26:10.0) rounds out the list in 34th position.
The full 280-runner fields will be posted to www.ncaa.com by 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 17. For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.