FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo women’s cross country team concluded its historic 2011 season with a 24th-place finish at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19 in Spokane, Wash.

The cross country team became the first women’s program at Montevallo to advance to the NCAA finals after a second-place finish at the Southeast Region Championships. The women’s program has been in existence for just eight years, but has already soared to the top of the Division II ranks.

Junior Kaley Glover led the team with a 154th overall finish in a time of 24:42.2.

The Falcons competed in the middle of a snow storm with temperatures in the low 20s. Freshman Lauren Recchia came in second for the Falcons with a 166th place finish. Recchia completed the course in 25:27.3. Junior Haley Evans, who won the PBC Championship, finished third for the Falcons and 173rd overall with a time of 25:58.7.

Senior Katherine Schofield came in just two spots behind Evans in 175th with a time of 26:02.6. Senior Ginny Davis came in 183rd with a time of 27:07.5, while sophomore In-Mi Matsunaga finished in 184th with a time of 27:15.1.

Senior Whitney Adkins rounded out the Falcons performance with a 186th place finish and a time of 28:54.3.

The Falcons finished 20 points behind the University of West Florida, which came in 23rd. Augustana won the event with a total team score of 75 while Western State came in second.