Seniors Anna Stumbo and Lisa Griego earned All-NAIA Region II honors on Saturday at the NAIA Region II Championships which were held in Fresno. The women, who are ranked at number 18 in the NAIA, finished in fourth place while the #25 men took fifth.

Stumbo placed fourth in the field of 85 runners with a time 18:08 over the 5,000 meter course. The time was the third best performance ever by a Warrior at the Woodward Park course. Stumbo is also the owner of the two times better than today’s. Griego claimed eleventh place, completing the course in a time of 18:22, the fourth best performance by a Warrior at Woodward Park.

Westmont’s third finisher was freshman Katie Fritzke who turned in a time of 18:56, good enough for twenty-second place. Sophomore Christa Juell placed thirty-first in a time of 19:13 while senior Leanne Riggin finished thirty-third in a time of 19:19.

The Women’s race was won by #3 Azusa Pacific with 57 points. #11 Cal State San Marcos finished second with 74 points and #6 Biola took third with 75 points. By finishing ahead of #7 Point Loma Nazarene, which finished fifth with 115 points, the Warriors hope to move up in the final NAIA ranking which will be released on Wednesday. Today’s race should result in an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championships on November 17 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Westmont’s men also improved their chances for a bid to the national tournament, though they remain on the bubble. The Warriors finished ahead of #21 The Master’s and just two points behind #11 Vanguard. Westmont scored 116 points. Cal State San Marcos won the event and the automatic bid to nationals with a total of 65 points. Azusa Pacific placed second with 91 points and Concordia was third with 93 points.

Westmont’s top runner was senior Robert Cherry whose time of 25:41 was good enough for sixteenth place. Senior Aaron Megazzi placed twentieth in a time of 25:58. Six seconds back of Megazzi was freshman Jacob Goodin who placed twenty-third. Sophomore Sean Adams claimed thirtieth place in a time of 26:19 and senior Nick Martin took thirty-second in a time of 26:25.

Twenty-eight men’s teams and 28 women’s teams make up the national championship field. Thirteen or fourteen bids are earned by winning the regional championships leaving 14-15 at large selections. At large-selections are based completely on the final rakings. In addition, the top-five finishers at each of the regional championships whose teams do not qualify are invited to compete as individuals. Even if the women do not qualify, Stumbo has earned a spot at the national championship race. Griego would also likely go. Cherry and Megazzi, like the men’s team as a whole, are on bubble for individual qualification.

[men’s results] [women’s results]