MONMOUTH, Ore. - Northwest Nazarene women's cross country had their best showing since 2019 at the NCAA West Regional meet on Saturday, placing 14th as a team among the 28-team field.

The Nighthawks registered 377 points, just ahead of Fresno Pacific and Cal State Monterey Bay. Chico State, Cal Poly Pomona, and Western Washington took the top three spots and automatic qualifying berths to the NCAA Championships. 

Morgan Erler led the NNU charge with a 19th-place finish, crossing the line in the 6K race with a time of 21:07.35 to earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the second-straight year. 

Hazel Kunkel had a great showing at her first regional meet, as the freshman took 26th with a time of 21:16.62.

Zoey Stauffer was next for NNU, placing 86th at 22:13.53. McKenna Lechner (120th, 22:50.18) and Keelin Stewart (129th, 23:00.33) rounded out the counting five for the Nighthawks. 

NNU's finish is the highest for the program since the Nighthawks took second at the regional in 2019.