The women’s cross country team concluded their 2011 season in Indiana at the NCAA Championships, appearing in the contest for its 27th time – more than any other school in the nation.

Going into the competition, the women were ranked 20th in the national poll and had high hopes for maintaining that ranking or better. After performances by the leader of the Pack and senior Andie Cozzarelli , finishing in 63rd place at a time of 20:44.2 on the 6k course, sophomore Laura Hoer in 71st with a 20:48.7 time and true-freshman Joanna Thompson following in 77th place at 20:51.6, the women came close to their goal but fell to a ranking of 23 out of 31 schools.

Other score-contributors for N.C. State were junior Erin Mercer and sophomore Samantha Norman, who completed the race in times of 22.07.2 at 219th place and 22.08.9 in 222nd place.

November was an important month for the women’s cross country team after they tied for third with Virginia in the ACC Championships. Qualifying for Nationals was on the wish-list for the team and impressive times for the women were needed in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship in Kentucky in order to have an automatic spot in Nationals.

The Wolfpack fell short to rival Virginia at Regionals with a total distance of 6 points from each other. But finishing runner-up put the team ahead of the Tar Heels and a bid into Nationals for its 15th time in 17 years with coaches Rollie Geiger and Laurie Henes .