Bluffton High School graduate and Eastern Mennonite University sophomore Hannah Chappell-Dick finished 12th at Saturday's South/Southeast cross country regional in Newport News, qualifying for the NCAA Division III national meet while spurring the team on to a seventh-place finish.
Chappell-Dick, running in just her third race of the year, stumbled twice as she neared the 6k finish line, but still crossed in 22:59.02 to claim the final individual qualifying spot. She also earned All-Region honors with the finish.
The Royals totaled 240 points to finish seventh, just ahead of host Christopher Newport with 254. The University of the South was sixth with 201. Trinity (Tex.) had three of the top four finishers and won the meet with 36 points. Second-place Emory (76) also qualified their entire team for nationals.
He said Chappell-Dick's advancing to nationals was intense.
"Everyone is really excited for Hannah for qualifying for the NCAA Championships," said Lewkowicz. "It was a crazy finish to the race for her, but that can't overshadow her remarkable recovery from offseason surgery. Her teammates deserve credit for helping push and encourage Hannah as she worked her way back and I know she will be running for them next weekend."
Chappell-Dick will be EMU's first female representative at the national meet since Andrea Good qualified in 2002. Good, a two-time ODAC Champion, was just inducted into the school's Hall of Honor this fall. The D-III National Championship is Saturday, Nov. 23, in Hanover, Ind.
