Runner to cap off season at national championship race

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Junior Athena Welsh will represent the Toledo women’s cross country team in the NCAA Championships Saturday, Nov. 17.

She was announced as an automatic qualifier during the NCAA’s inaugural Cross Country Selection Show.

Welsh had a breakout season, claiming the individual crown in three of the four regular season races, helping the Rockets land consistently in the top five in team standings throughout the year. In the Mid-American Conference Championships, Welsh took runner-up (20:37.9), only three seconds behind Eastern Michigan’s Natalie Cizmas.

At the NCAA Regional Nov. 9, Welsh finished in 17th with a time of 20:55.2, helping the Rockets take ninth in the team standings.

Last season, Welsh also landed in 17th (20:58), the highest a Rocket had placed in the regionals since 2014.

The NCAA Championships will take place at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wis. The women’s 6K will begin at 10:45 a.m.