Wayne State College placed 27^th out of 36 teams Saturday morning with a team score of 793 points at the NCAA Central Region Women's Cross Country Championships in Joplin, Missouri at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
            Winona State captured the team title with 99 points followed by Pittsburg State at 113 and Nebraska-Kearney third with 116 points.  The top three teams automatically advance to the NCAA National Championships.  Minnesota State took fourth with 141 points and Northwest Missouri State was fifth at 156.
            Sophomore Allie Czapla was the top Wildcat finisher, covering the 6,000-meter course in a time of 23:57.70 to place 142^nd out of a field of 236 runners.  Senior Sydney Escritt was next for WSC in 144^th place at 24:01.44 and junior Callie Kirchner took 146^th place overall in a time of 24:04.50.
            Senior Madeline Kunz was 182^nd overall in a time of 25:17.41 followed by sophomore Kaitlyn Bloomenrader in 191^st place at 25:41.68. 
            Other Wildcat finishers were Maelee Beacom in 194^th place at 25:46.67 and freshman Kyla Krusemark in 199^th place with a time of 25:56.20.
 
Wayne State women's finishers at NCAA Central Region Championships
Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course – Joplin, Missouri (6,000 meters)

142.       Allie Czapla                    23:57.70
144.        Sydney Escritt              24:01.44
146.        Callie Kirchner              24:04.50
182.        Madeline Kunz           25:17.41
191.        Kaitlyn Bloomenrader   25:41.68
194.        Maelee Beacom           25:46.67
199.        Kyla Krusemark           25:56.20