Bourbonnais, IL - Running in their first-ever CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conferenc) Championship race, Judson University ran well for a new program. The women's team finished fourth and the men sixth of seven teams. Freshman Rachael Dean qualified as an individual for both the NCCAA and NAIA National Championship meet.

On the women's side, Judson scored 94 points for fourth place and was just five points from finishing in third as the University of St. Francis (IL) had 90 points. Dean was the highest finisher for Judson in ninth place in the 5K with a time of 19:59. With her finish, she qualified for the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Championship in Cedarville, Ohio, and the NAIA National Meet. She will run in Cedarville, Ohio, next weekend and then the following weekend travel to Wisconsin for the NAIA National meet.

Judson had three other runners finish in the top 25 in Abbie Dupont, Kim Peek, and Sandra Hubbardd. Dupont was 16^th with a time of 21:14 followed by Peek in 21^st (21:43.28) and Hubbard in 21^st (21:43.36). Lisa Reitz was 28^th (22:38) while Sharon Hubbard was 41^st (26:29) and Dianna Clard 45^th (27:41).

The men finished sixth of seven with 168 points and was just 12 points behind Trinity Christian for fifth place. Nick Sustersic was the top runner for Judson in 22nd place (28:28) in the 8K race. Dakota West was next to cross the finish line in 32^nd with a time of 29:15 followed by Robert Altenburger in 33^rd (29:19). Nate Faulkner was 40^th (29:57), Ethan Hahn 53^rd (30:05), Thomas Jarrett in 47^th (30:42), and Matt DeBall 50^th (31:37).

"I am very pleased with how the men ran today," says head coach Rich Weinhandl. "They ran with character and heart and persevered through the tough conditions. They showed a lot of heart in the final 1000 meters."

Both teams are done on the season as Rachael Dean is the only runner advancing to the National meet.