BOSTON – Junior Emma Lundberg (Hebron, N.H.) of the Southern New Hampshire University women's cross country team finished third overall at the NCAA East Regional Sunday at Franklin Park.  As a team the Penmen finished eighth out of 28 schools.

Lundberg completed the six-kilometer course in a time of 22:52, finishing 34 seconds behind race winner Jeptui Cherutich of American International College.  By virtue of finishing in the top five, Lundberg now qualifies to compete at the NCAA Division II national championship, which will be held Saturday, December 4 in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the Division II Fall Championship Festival.  Lundberg is the first SNHU runner to qualify for nationals in program history.

Melissa Hurley (Ashaway, R.I.) was the next Penmen finisher, coming in 53^rd with a time of 24:41.  Christina Montefusco (Danvers, Mass.) finished 13 seconds back of Hurley to come in 59^th, while Madeline Hayes (Newington, Conn.) posted a time of 25:12 to come home 68^th.

Jacquelyn Dussault (Manchester, N.H.) ran a time of 26:46, while Christina Powell (Granby, Mass.) (27:21) and Kelsey Parker (Tewksbury, Mass.) (27:56) rounded out the Penmen finishers.

SNHU's eighth-place finish as a team is its highest ever at the NCAA East Regional.