Ana Tucker Crowned NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Regional Champ

The Flying Dutch placed third out of 38 teams.

Senior Ana Tucker runs on her way to becoming the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional champion.

Nothing stood in Ana Tucker's goal to become a regional champion in cross country. Not a snowy morning. Not a field of 248 runners.

The Hope College senior ran away with a first-place finish at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships on Saturday at Three Fires Golf Club in Holland.

Tucker (Midland, Michigan / H.H Dow HS) became the Flying Dutch's sixth regional champion after clocking a winning 6K time of 20 minutes, 46.0 seconds and finishing 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Claire Walters of Franciscan University (Ohio).

"The key was to stay mentally tough throughout it," Tucker said of racing in the coldest and snowiest conditions of the season. "I had to keep reminding myself to keep my head in the game and keep on going at the same pace."

Tucker qualified for the national championships on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Michigan State University's Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan.

Several of Tucker's teammates may join her at nationals. No. 20-ranked Hope placed third out of 38 teams at the regional with 127 points and is a candidate for an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championships

The field is announced on ncaa.com on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m.

Tucker, an exercise science major, joined an elite group of Hope women's cross country regional champs: Erin Herrmann (2016), Katy Conlen (1991), Tauca Jecmen (1988 and 1987), and Sandra Lake (1986).

Head coach Mark Northuis said Tucker was focused this year and doing the little things that allowed her to excel.

"Last year she wasn't satisfied," Northuis said. "She was relaxed (on Saturday). We kept her normal training week for her, and didn't come down at all. I think she had confidence she would just come out and run a race. The weather wasn't really a factor for her.

"To see someone who sets out a goal, works toward it and accomplishes it, it's great."

No. 25 John Carroll University (Ohio) captured the regional title with 81 points and earned an automatic berth to nationals. No. 24 Calvin University, the MIAA Championships runner-up to Hope, finished second at the regional with 106 points.

Three more Flying Dutch runners earned all-region honors by placing among the top 35.

Senior Ellie Jankowski (Granger, Indiana / Penn) recorded a 14th-place run of 21:47.1.

Junior Rebecca Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) clocked a 26th-place effort of 22:12.5.

Senior Anna Mason (Zeeland, Michigan / Libertas Christian) posted a 32nd-place run of 22:19.9.

Freshman Madison Stern (Saline, Michigan / Saline) took 54th with a run of 22:47.8.

Senior Heleyna Tucker (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) finished 64th at 22:55.1.

Sophomore Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) was 74th at 23:07.8.

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