Senior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) and junior Ashlie Baumann (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) were named All-Great Lakes Region after posting top-35 finishes to lead the Ohio Northern women's cross country team to a ninth place finish at the NCAA III Great Lakes Regional meet on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears finished ninth of 35 teams with 292 points, improving their record to 94-37 overall.

Richards earned an automatic bid to next weekend's NCAA Div. III National Championships in Elsah, Ill. after posting a top-7 finish, claiming second place overall in a career-best time of 21:47.2.

The senior will make her third consecutive appearance at the national championship meet after posting the second-best finish at the regional meet by an Ohio Northern women's cross country runner.

Baumann earned All-Region honors after finishing 16th overall in the race in 22:55.7.