WINNECONNE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - For the second year in a row, the UW-Eau Claire women's cross country team placed first out of 39 teams in Saturday's NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship hosted by UW-Oshkosh.

The team finished with 52 points and an average time of 21:52. Washington University (Mo.) placed second with 72 points. In third place was UW-La Crosse with 98 points and UW-Oshkosh placed fourth with 139 points.

With the win, the third-ranked Blugolds and Washington University are the Midwest Regionals' automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Division III Championship, which will take place in Highland Hills, Ohio next Saturday. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (Eastern)

The Blugolds had three runners place in the top 10 at the meet. Beth Easker (Jr.-Wittenberg, Wis./Wittenberg-Birnamwood) took sixth place with a time of 21:42. Alyssa Sybilrud (So.-Savage, Minn./Burnsville) was a second behind at 21:43, good for eighth and Margaret Ho (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) finished in 21:47 taking 10th place.

Hannah Humbach (Sr.-Madison, Wis./Abundant Life) took 12th place with a time of 21:56. Elly Prunty (Jr.-Antigo, Wis.) was the Blugolds' fifth finisher, taking 16th place with a time of 22:09 and took 16th place.

All seven of the Blugold runners competing at the meet earned All-Region honors for their performances. The top 35 runners at the event make the All-Region team.

Ayla Mitchell of UW-Oshkosh finished first with a time of 20:52.