JOPLIN, Mo. - Ryan Hartman won his fourth consecutive race while the women's program took the team crown to earn spots in the NCAA Championships after a successful day at the NCAA Regional on Saturday morning.

Hartman becomes the first individual champion on the men's side since Tom Karbo in 2014. The senior was neck and neck through 5k, trailing by just .1 seconds, before blowing it open on the back half, running away with an eight second victory. 

"Ryan Hartman continues to set the bar and he beat some very talented runners today to win the individual title," said Tracy Hellman. "He is entering the NCAA Championships running his best and is full of confidence. Our men's team just came up short but we will bounce back and we gained valuable experience in this meet."

The nationally-ranked Augustana women's cross country team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA DII National Championships after placing first at the NCAA Central Region Championships on Saturday morning. It is their fourth title in the last five seasons.

"It was a great day at the Central Region Championships," said Hellman. "Winning the women's title was a great way to finish the meet. I thought we looked really good and our women really stepped up today and raced well."

"We now set our sights for the NCAA Championships Nov 23 in Sacramento."

The women garnered their seventh-straight top three finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships collecting 82 points. The women were led by Ella Bakken, closing in fourth place with a finishing time of 20:50.39. She was one of three to finish in the top-10, joined by Ashley Overgaauw (eighth, 21:14.76), and Eleni Lovgren (ninth, PR 21:18.22).

The Viking women saw four named to the All-Region team with Bakken, Overgaauw and Lovgren joined by Taylor Melton. She finished 19th with a time of 21:42.56. Lindsey Young rounded out the top five Vikings, coming in 42nd with a time of 22:06.50.

The men's race opened the day for the Vikings as they saw a seventh place overall finish. After Hartman, Kadin Groen placed 28th in a personal best 31:28.3 and Erik Gundersen finished in 31:47.0 to take 43rd.

Daniel Street was the next finisher for the Vikings, closing the day with a personal best 31:51.77, good for 51st. In 62nd place was Brady Hogan, running in a time of 32:09.82. 

Augustana Women Finishers
4. Ella Bakken, 20:50.39
8. Ashley Overgaauw, 21:14.76
9. Eleni Lovgren, 21:18.22
19. Taylor Melton, 21:42.56
42. Lindsey Young, 22:06.50
35. Tenley Nelson, 22:13.31
62. Caroline Sudbeck, 22:31.40

Augustana Men Finishers
1. Ryan Hartman, 30:07.99
28. Kadin Groen, 31:28.29
43. Erik Gundersen, 31:47.00
51. Daniel Street, 31:51.77
62. Brady Hogan, 32:09.82
100. Evan Myran, 32:51.82
134. Tyson Ricker, 33:43.81

Overall Women Team Finishers
1. Augustana, 82 points
2. Pittsburg State, 110 points
3. UMary, 116 points
4. Winona State, 130 points
5. Rogers State, 137 points

Overall Men Team Finishers
1. East Central, 71 points
3. Northwest Missouri State, 76 points
2. Pittsburg State, 103 points
4. Washburn, 175 points
5. Nebraska-Kearney, 176 points


Up Next
The women and Ryan Hartman have secured their spot for the NCAA Championships back in Sacramento, California, on Nov. 23, while the men must wait to learn if they have received an at-large bid.