Viscusi Qualifies for National Championships as Lions Place 11th in Region

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Mars Hill's Jessica Viscusi qualified for the National Championships as Mars Hill's women's cross country team placed 11th in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship, held Saturday morning at McAlpine Creek Park.

Viscusi placed fifth overall in the region with a time of 22:20.6 to earn a berth in the 2013 NCAA Division II National Championships, which will be held Nov. 23 in Spokane, Wash. Behind Viscusi's performance, the Lions placed 11th in the Southeast Region- a three-place improvement from last season. MHU was third among South Atlantic Conference teams in the region. SAC-foe Wingate won the Southeast Region title, while Flagler and Columbus State also earned automatic-qualifying bids to the National Championships.

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Viscusi's time broke a school-record in the 6K by 27 seconds. The previous record was set by Kate Prichard at the 2006 National Championships. She finished second among SAC runners after placing fifth in the SAC Championship two weeks ago.

Faith Trammell placed second among Lions runners, turning in a time of 23:37.5. The junior placed 40th overall in the meet.

Heidi Hooker, Anje Kidd and Shelby Robinson rounded out Mars Hill's top five. Hooker ran a time of 24:16.4 to place 59th-overall in her final collegiate race.

The Regional Championship concludes Mars Hill's season as a team. Viscusi will travel to the National Championship race Nov. 23.