After falling two points short of an automatic bid to the NCAA championships at the Northeast Regionals in Buffalo, Syracuse’s women’s cross country team qualified as one of 12 at-large teams.

The women have steadily improved their point totals since their 18th place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitation in Wisconsin where the team accumulated 488 points. A fourth place finish at ACC’s on October 27th put SU in position to contend for a berth at NCAAs.

Before Northeast Regionals on Friday, SU head coach Chris Fox believed the team had a legitimate shot to make the cut if some of the middle runners could run a little faster than usual.

On Nov. 10, the women’s team was steadied by top-three finishes from Paige Stoner and Shannon Malone. In the middle, Madeline Davidson and Rachel Boner placed within the top 40 and Eva Scott rounded out the scoring five by placing 62nd.

Though their 117 points was not enough to land them an automatic spot in NCAA’s, their designation as an at-large selection gives them an opportunity to compete at NCAA championships for the eighth time in the last 10 years.  

Four teams will compete out of the Northeast region including Columbia who qualified as an at-large team along with Syracuse.

After falling short of qualifying last season, SU’s women’s cross country team will look to make an impact at NCAA Championships on Nov. 18th in Louisville, Kentucky.