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Katie Heck
Senior Katie Heck earned First Team All-Region honors following an 18th place finish at the 2023 NCAA Division II Regionals

Heck earns All-Region nods, men's cross country has historic showing at NCAA Division II Regionals

11/4/2023 4:00:00 PM

By: Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications
LUBBOCK, Texas – Senior Katie Heck earned her second-straight All-Region accolade with an 18th-place finish on the women's side, and the Fort Lewis College men's cross country team raced as a pack en route to a historic finish at the 2023 NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

Men's Results (6th Place, 193 Points)
The Skyhawks men ran one of their best-ever team races, earning sixth place in the field of 25 teams—an amazing turnaround after finishing 11th in 2022 and 13th in 2021. Fort Lewis compiled a total time of 2:36:22.94 with an average of 31:16.59. The team average marks a two-minute improvement from their average at the 2022 NCAA Regionals. Senior Henry Barth was the first to cross the line for Fort Lewis, placing 33rd with a time of 31:01.1.

It was Barth's first 10k since the 2019 NCAA Division II Regionals, and the senior obliterated his former personal best by over two minutes. Sophomore Bean Minor was right there with him, clocking a time of 31:05.32 which placed him 34th. For Minor, the race marked a personal best by over three minutes. Sophomore Eli Smith was the next to cross the finish line for Fort Lewis with a 37th-place finish and a time of 31:11.35. Rounding out the top five was sophomore Brady Burrough (42nd, 31:23.57, PR) and senior Conner Dosmann (47th, 31:41.57, PR).

Colorado School of Mines earned the team title with 43 points, followed by Adams State (51) and West Texas A&M (70). Mines had the third, sixth, and seventh-place finishers while William Amponsah of West Texas A&M earned the individual title with a time of 29:32.69. Fort Lewis has put itself in good contention for a bid to the NCAA Division II Championships in Joplin, Missouri and will await Sunday's selection show.

"The men stuck to the race plan and it worked. They started conservatively and worked their way up the entire race. The team has completely bought into the training, and it has shown this season," said head coach Shawn Jakubowski. "I couldn't be more proud of this group, and we hope to represent Fort Lewis at the national championships in a few weeks."

Women's Results (9th Place, 262 Points)
Senior Katie Heck was as impressive as ever in the women's 6k, placing 18th to earn All-Region accolades with a time of 21:13.40. Heck's times this season are trending in the right direction with today's race marking a season-best. As a team, the Skyhawks posted an average time of 22:10.67—an improvement on their 10th-place finish and average time of 23:21 at last year's NCAA Division II Regional. Lending to the better finish was freshman Linda Weigang who crossed the line in 28th with a time of 21:35.92.

Following the pair was a trio of Skyhawks who finished the race one after the other. Junior Brandy Ray was the first of the group with a 71st-place race and a time of 23:01.91. Rounding out the top five were freshman Tessa Stadler (72nd, 23:02.43) and sophomore Mikenna Hoffman (73rd, 23:02.71). In the women's race, 173 student-athletes competed from 26 schools.

Adams State earned the team title with 44 points, followed by Colorado School of Mines (76) and Western Colorado (111). Brianna Robles of Adams State took home the individual title with a time of 20:13.68. The Grizzlies had the first, fifth, and ninth-place finishers.

"The women did a great job moving up the entire race, and I'm so proud of their effort today. This team has accomplished so much this season, and they are paving the way for the future Skyhawks," recognized Jakubowski. "To finish ninth in the toughest region is a great accomplishment, and we will keep our fingers crossed for a bid to nationals."

Up Next
Fort Lewis College will await the selection show on Sunday to see if its seasons will be extended on an individual and/or team basis. The NCAA Division II National Championships will take place on Saturday, November 18 at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri.
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