The Northwest Missouri State University women's and men's cross country teams combined to produce five all-region performances on Saturday at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship held in Joplin, Mo.
 
The Bearcat women earned a fifth-place team finish behind a strong trio that finished among the top 21 competitors. Northwest was the top MIAA women's squad in the meet. The Bearcat women entered the meet ranked No. 9 in the USTFCCCA's region rankings.
 
The women's squad notched a trio of all-region performances in the meet led by a top-10 finish from Caroline Cunningham. Kaylee Harp and Amber Owens joined Cunningham in earning all-region honors by finishing in the top-25.
 
Cunningham ran the second-fastest 6K race in program history with a time of 21:06.73, which placed her eighth overall in the region. Harp placed 19th with a clocking of 21:30.15, which ranks as the fifth-best time in school history. Owens notched a 21st-place finish with a time of 21:34.13. Owens's time ranks as the seventh-best clocking in a 6K in school history.
 
On the men's side, Jacob Nkamasiai and Fedrick Kipyego each tallied all-region honors. Nkamasiai had the top Bearcat men's finish in 10th place with a time of 30:04.87, which ranks as the third-best 10K time in program history. Kipyego secured 21st-place with a time of 30:31.98, which ranks as the fifth-best clocking in school annuals.
 
The NCAA will announce at-large selections to the NCAA Championship meet on Monday. The 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship meets will be held Nov. 20 in Tampa, Fla. The Bearcat women's team will have a chance at earning an at-large selection as a squad. Cunningham and Nkamasiai also possess the opportunity to be selected as individuals for the NCAA Championships.
 
Northwest's Women's Times
8. Caroline Cunningham – 21:06.73
19. Kaylee Harp – 21:30.15
21. Amber Owens – 21:34.13
52. Alyna Thibault – 22:17.19
121. Tori Castle – 23:21.64
122. Emily Saalfeld – 23:22.69
213. Corrina Dittmer – 26:33.48
 
Women's Team Standings
1. Augustana – 33
2. Minnesota-Duluth – 113
3. Univ. of Mary – 130
4. Winona State – 190
5. Northwest Missouri State – 221
6. Nebraska-Kearney – 252
7. Central Missouri – 283
8. Pittsburg State – 290
9. Fort Hays State – 306
10. Rogers State – 325
11. Minnesota State – 331
12. Washburn – 343
13. Oklahoma Baptist – 362
14. Missouri Southern – 378
15. Arkansas Tech – 394
16. Sioux Falls – 415
17. Missouri Western – 447
18. Northern State – 456
19. Harding – 488
20. East Central – 512
21. MSU Moorhead – 523
22. Emporia State – 524
23. Ouachita Baptist – 524
24. Minot State – 630
25. St. Cloud State – 677
26. Central Oklahoma – 690
27. Southern Arkansas – 800
28. Wayne State – 848
29. Bemidji State – 863
30. Southern Nazarene – 893
31. Upper Iowa – 926
32. Southeastern Oklahoma State – 942
33. Northwestern Oklahoma – 964
34. Concordia St. Paul – 1,012
35. Minnesota Crookston – 1,082
 
Northwest's Men's Times
10. Jacob Nkamasiai – 30:04.87
21. Fedrick Kipyego – 30:31.98
48. Tucker Dahle – 31:30.79
55. Mike Lagat – 31:39.43
116. Augostine Lisoreng – 32:56.35
132. Trevor Ramsdell – 33:16.05
DNF – Jake Norris
 
Men's Team Standings
1. Augustana – 43
2. Missouri Southern – 81
3. Pittsburg State – 92
4. Nebraska-Kearney – 171
5. Central Missouri – 179
6. Univ. of Mary – 231
7. Fort Hays State – 244
8. Northwest Missouri State – 250
9. Sioux Falls – 277
10. Emporia State – 290
11. Minnesota State – 338
12. Minnesota Duluth – 339
13. Washburn – 370
14. Oklahoma Baptist – 402
15. Missouri Western – 422
16. Winona State – 435
17. Rogers State – 442
18. Harding – 486
19. East Central – 506
20. Minot State – 579
21. MSU Moorhead – 609
22. Newman – 621
23. Ouachita Baptist – 621
24. Northern State – 635
25. Concordia St. Paul – 650
26. Southern Arkansas – 654
27. Wayne State – 765
28. Northwestern Oklahoma – 830
29. Southern Nazarene – 873
30. Minnesota Crookston – 878
31. Upper Iowa - 919