Regional champion Erin Herrmann is going to nationals for the Hope College women's cross country team again, and she will have company.
The Flying Dutch received an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championships after placing third at Saturday's Great Lakes Regional they hosted at West Ottawa Golf Club.
Hope was awarded one of 16 at-large berths on Sunday to join 16 teams that already had claimed their spots at the national meet on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Louisville, Kentucky by finishing in the top two during their regional meets.
Hope totaled 128 points behind Herrmann's winning time of 21 minutes, 12 seconds. The senior from Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) finished eight seconds ahead of the nearest competitor.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion Flying Dutch came in eight points behind runner-up Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Calvin won with 90 points.
"I think we're in a very good position," Hope coach Mark Northuis said. "We've been ranked in the Top 20 all season."
This is the fifth time a Flying Dutch runner has been crowned regional champion.
Herrmann joins Katy Conlen (1991), Tauna Jecmen (1987-88), and Sandra Lake (1986).
"Erin has been training very well and racing very well," Northuis said. "She was excited to be here in front of the home crowd. There were about 3,000 people here. It's exciting to have that kind of group to cheer you on."
Click below to watch an interview with Herrmann.
Three other Hope runners earned all-region honors: senior Emily Joosse of Chillicothe, Ohio (Zane Trace) scoring 21st at 22:31.8, sophomore Avery Lowe of North Muskegon, Michigan (North Muskegon) in 26th at 22:44.4, and senior Jessica Gaines of Sterling Heights, Michigan (Utica Academy) in 33rd at 22:54.0.
Junior Alissa Frazee of Watervliet, Michigan (Home School) rounded out the Flying Dutch's scoring in 47th at 23:08.0.
Also placing for Hope were sophomore Emily Hamilton of Naperville, Illinois (Naperville North) in 50th at 23:10.0 and junior Alexis Guttilla of St. Charles, Illinois (Westminster Christian) in 63rd at 23:33.9.
