Ojutkangas Tabs All Region Honors at the 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional Meet.

Friday, November 15

Peoria, Ill.

11:00 A.M.

Southeast Missouri State University

NCAA Regionals

11/15/2024 2:01:00 PM | Cross Country

Results Photo Gallery

PEORIA, Ill. - Nova Ojutkangas places 17th and becomes just the third SEMO athlete in Division I history to claim All Region honors. Southeast Missouri cross country had a successful 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional meet with three new personal bests.

The Redhawk women placed 28th with 769 points while the SEMO Men placed 27th with 763 total points.

SEMO Record Again
Nova Ojutkangas crossed the line at 20:18.17 to break the SEMO 6k record again and claim All Region Honors. The Sophomore broke her own record of 20:31.3 which she set earlier in the year at angel mounds invite early on Oct. 18.

Ojutkangas is the first athlete since 1998 to make the All Region Team and third ever SEMO athlete to accomplish the feat.

6k Results
Lauren Eftink placed 179 for a finishing time of 22:47.34 in her first NCAA regional meet. Madelyn Gray posted an ending time of 22:56.10 (187) in her last Regional meet.

Brooklyn Bender and Kayla Vogelsang rounded out the SEMO scorers with times of 195 23:00.23 (195) and 23:11.61 (205).

With times of 23:29.37 and 23:38.32 Alayna Sparr and Cordelia Hoover placed 217 and 220.

10k Results
Noah Little achieved a new personal best time of 30:44.50 after he crossed the line in 60th. In his second regional meet Cade McCadams posted a time of 32:42.17 (165) for a new personal record.

The freshman Evan Fuller finished his first ever 10k race in 33:04.05 (174th). 192 Byron Sowerby and Clayton Eftink finished in 34:07.03 (192nd) and 34:33.20 (195th) to round out the Redhawk men scorers.

Jacob Blassingame and Justin Splitt placed back-to-back in 196th and 197th, recording times of 34:57.38 and 35:07.32.

Coaches Thoughts
"Nova and Noah ran as good as I thought, they were incredible", said Head coach Ryan Lane. "Overall the women's team ran very similar to wjat they have done all year. They are very young and have a lot of potential to grow and am excited".

"The men's team was missing their 2, 3, and 4 and we were still right behind Eastern Illinois so I would say we ran pretty well. We have a lot of strong middle distance runners that can do very well in track, so I am ready to see that come to light".

Looking Ahead
Nova Ojutkangas time was fast enough to make it into the pool for the NCAA Championship. Ojutkangas will find out Sunday if she is selected to move on to Madison, Wisconsin for the championship event.