A Pair Of All-Region Performances

WAVERLY, Iowa (11/10/18)---Meritt Miller saved the best for last in her sophomore season. Miller raced to a 22:53 at the NCAA Central Region Meet, finished in 20th place, and earned her first-ever All-Region award.

Miller was joined by teammate Kara Andersen on the All-Region podium as the two helped Concordia to a 12th-place team finish. The 12th-place finish is the highest by a Cobber team at a region meet since 2011 when they placed 11th.

Miller led the Cobbers for the first time all season. She dropped to the team's No.5 runner at the MIAC Meet two weeks ago but rebounded to post her Top 20 region finish. It is the first time that a Cobber athlete has finished in the Top 20 since 2015 when Kaya Baker also finished 20th.

Andersen earns her first All-Region honor by virtue of her 28th-place finish at the Central Region Meet. She crossed the line in a time of 23:03. Last year she finished in 55th place.

The two become the fourth and fifth Concordia athletes to earn All-Region honors since the 2008 campaign. Melissa Uhrich garnered the award in 2013 and Hailey Brendan placed 16th in 2008 to earn her all-region honor.    

It's the first time the Cobbers have had two harriers earn All-Region honors since 2000 when they had three runners capture All-Region honors.   

Brianna Gruenberg, Emily Rugloski and Tarja Nelsen finished off the Top 5 runners for Concordia at the meet. Gruenberg ran a 23:48 while Rugloski came home in 24:15 and Nelsen clocked a time of 24:25.

Final Central Region Team Standings
1. Carleton – 64 points
2. Nebraska Wesleyan – 128 points
3. Wartburg – 133 points
4. St. Thomas (Minn.) – 160 points
5. St. Olaf – 164 points
6. Gustavus Adolphus – 234 points
7. Luther – 248 points
8. Bethel (Minn.) – 258 points
9. Hamline – 276 points
10. Loras – 279 points
11. St. Benedict – 288 points
12. Concordia-Moorhead – 300 points
13. Macalester – 303 points
14. St. Scholastica – 322 points
15. Grinnell – 274 points
16. Central College – 421 points
17. Cornell College – 457 points
18. St. Catherine – 487 points
19. Coe College – 581 points
21. Minnesota-Morris – 623 points
22. Wis.-Superior – 631 points
23. Dubuque – 694 points
24. Saint Mary's (Minn.) – 721 points
25. Buena Vista – 729 points
26. Bethany Lutheran – 766 points
27. Martin Luther – 744 points
28. Crown – 818 points
29. Northwestern (Minn.) – 891 points

Concordia Finishers At NCAA Central Region Meet
20. Merritt Miller – 22:53
28. Kara Andersen – 23:03
66. Brianna Gruenberg – 23:48
89. Emily Rugloski – 24:15
97. Tarja Nelsen – 24:25
105. Miriah Forness – 24:29
124. Isabel Fredrickson – 24:49