IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Northern Illinois cross country team made school history Friday morning at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship with a ninth place finish, and Hope Schmelzle (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) became the school's first ever NCAA National Championship qualifier at the Ashton Cross Country Course.

The Huskies were able to blow the school's previous best finish of 23^rd place from 2014 out of the water with a total team time of 1:46:29 and an average finishing time of 21:18 to earn a score of 267.

"Our team made a statement that we are no longer living in the basement of the conference or region," said NIU head coach Adrian Myers. "We are going to come for that MAC title, and we are going to come for the NCAA National Championship team bid, next year. I promised our seniors today that we are coming back for those things next year."

The race featured 37 teams with 235 total runners from across the Midwest including Missouri who took first place with 83 points, second place Oklahoma State with 89 and third place Iowa State with 90 points.

Schmelzle broke the school's previous six kilometer record of 20:27.8 set by junior Kelsey Hildreth (Byron, Ill./Byron) during the 2015 season with her third place 20:16.9 finish.

"Hope ran such a gutsy race to punch her ticket to the NCAA National Championships," said Myers of Schmelzle. "She will be a strong contender for All-American accolades there. She proved that today placing behind two athletes who have already earned the honor."

Hildreth was able to record her seventh top-10 school record time with a 21:23.9 finish to claim the 10^th spot. Schmelzle and Hildreth's times were enough to knock off Courtney Oldenburg (21:29.0) from the 2012 team and Hildreth's time from 2015's Roy Griak Invitational.

Four Huskies made the all-time performers list for the Huskies after today's race. Schmelzle was able to secure the first position with her finish, senior Ali Olson (New Auburn, Wis./Bloomer) took the fourth spot with her 21:32.1 finish, freshman Vivian Overbeck is now fifth with 21:36.0 and sophomore Ericka Hibser (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) took sixth with her 21:40.2 finish.

"I am so proud of these young ladies and their commitment to something that seemed a farse when I walked in the doors here," said Myers. "It's hard yet satisfying to accomplish something so great and see disappointment in their eyes. That speaks to my heart that we are a different team than before.

"I want to thank our seniors who gave me everything they could. I could not be more proud of the progress I've seen from Hope, Ali, Carly and Kelsey. They left an everlasting mark on this program that will forever have a special place in my heart, and for that I thank them."

Schmelzle will head to the NCAA National Championships next Saturday, November 19 to finish the season off for the Huskies.

-NIU-