JOPLIN, Mo. – The Washburn women's cross country team put up one of its best showings in program at the NCAA Central Regional Championship on Saturday morning at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course, placing five runners in the top 90 for ninth overall - the best finish in program history at the event.

Sophomore Kyla Lochtefeld led the Ichabods with an impressive 11th-place finish, clocking 21:24.21 over the 6,000-meter course. Her finish tied the highest regional placement by a Washburn runner in program history. Her time was a program-best for a 6K time.

Right behind her was junior Lexie Fontaine, with an 12th-place effort in 21:25.85, giving Washburn two top-15 finishers for the first time at a regional meet. The pair ran together in the lead chase pack throughout the final two miles, moving up several spots over the closing stretch.

Freshman Grace Collins turned in a clutch postseason performance, finishing 49th in 22:20.23, holding her position among the top-50 of more than 230 competitors. Senior Jolie Evans placed 70th (22:37.98), followed closely by Jordyn Cleary in 86th (22:54.39) to round out the Ichabods' scoring lineup.

Freshman Rylee Ismert (90th, 22:59.52) and sophomore Riley Britton (102nd, 23:03.60) provided critical depth in the team's strong collective performance.

With Lochtefeld and Fontaine both finishing in the top 15, Washburn will await the NCAA's official announcement to see if either runner advances individually to the Division II National Championships.

Winona State won the team title with 99 points followed by Pittsburg State with 113, Nebraska-Kearney with 116, Minnesota State with 141 and Northwest Missouri with 156 rounding out the top five. Washburn tallied 228 points overall.

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Washburn Individual Results
11. Kyla Lochtefeld – 21:24.21
12. Lexie Fontaine – 21:25.85
49. Grace Collins – 22:20.23
70. Jolie Evans – 22:37.98
86. Jordyn Cleary – 22:54.39
90. Rylee Ismert – 22:59.52
102. Riley Britton – 23:03.60