SEWARD, Neb. – For the second-straight year, junior Emily Sievert has earned an individual berth to the NAIA Cross Country National Championships. The native of Frankenmuth, Mich., placed ninth at last week’s GPAC championships by running a 5k time of 18:20.96. As the lone qualifier from head coach Matt Beisel’s programs, Sievert will be part of the national field that will run at North Farm Course in Elsah, Ill., on Saturday Nov. 19. The women’s race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CST.
In her first taste of nationals in 2015, Sievert finished in 159th place after clocking in at 19:27.3. Last season’s meet was held in Charlotte, N.C., where Sievert was joined by Jordan Potrzeba and Kim Wood.
This season Sievert has paced the Bulldogs at four of five meets. She has also claimed four top-10 finishes in 2016. Her time at the GPAC championships was a season best by nearly 12 seconds and came in just short of an all-time personal best. That performance allowed her to move up two spots from her 11th-place GPAC finish as a sophomore in 2015 when she also took home all-conference recognition.
This marks the sixth-straight year that Concordia cross country has sent a Sievert to nationals. Emily’s brother Ben competed at the national championships all four years of his career. He was a member of the 2012 GPAC championship team and earned All-America honors in 2013 when he placed 19th at the national championships.
For more information on the 2016 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championships, click HERE.