The Aurora University Women's cross country team competed at the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Cross Country Championships hosted by Augustana College. The team raced against some of Division III's best competition, lining up against teams from Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Arkansas.

The Spartan women furthered their argument that they are one of the premier cross country destinations in the Midwest with their second top-ten regional finish in three years. They raced to a tenth place finish with 296 points.

Deedee Colon Maldonado qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships with a regional runner-up finish. Maldonado raced to the front of the lead pack early on, establishing a great position within the first quarter-mile of the race. She raced strong against some of Division III's best runners as she blazed through the 3-kilometer mark in 10:40. She found herself confidently in second place as the race neared its end. Maldonado finished strong over the final stretch, and secured her spot as the highest regional finisher in Aurora University history. This is her fourth All-Midwest regional honor. 

N'Dya Fields was the next Spartan woman across the line. She attacked the field with her fierce, determined racing style that Aurora University faithful have come to associate her with. Fields raced out to an assertive start, coming through the first mile in the top 30 of the race. She stuck strong to her position, only falling slightly to finish 41st in the race. Her time of 23:05.9 was a 12 second personal best.

Savannah Vasquez was Aurora's third finisher on the day. She ran a gutsy race, as she has all season, to finish in 69th place with a time of 24:02.2.

Following close behind was Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez meticulously picked her way through the pack throughout the course of the race, biding her time to finish 80th place in the region. Her time of 24:18.4 was a ten second personal best.

The fifth Spartan to complete the 6-kilometer course was Emma Jasutis. She raced to a time of 24:51.9.

Mika Fields and August Pautsch finished soon after to complete the Spartans' scoring. They both ran spirited efforts, racing to times of 24:53.3 and 25:06.2, respectively. These times marked massive personal bests for each of the two Spartans.

The next race for the Spartans comes on Saturday, November 23 as Deedee Colon Maldonado competes at the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships at Lavern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Full results can be found here.