The Northern Michigan University women’s cross country team bundles up while posing for a team photo next to the team bus at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship in Kenosha, Wis., on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

MARQUETTE — The women’s cross country team at Northern Michigan University can get off their uncomfortable chairs made of pins and needles as they have received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Championships meet to be held in less than two weeks.

The Wildcats finished fourth as a team out of 32 schools at the D-II Midwest Regional held in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Saturday. The problem was that only the top three teams earned an automatic berth to the national finals.

But the NCAA selection committee had eight at-large bids available nationwide, and on late Monday afternoon chose the team ranked No. 12 in the country in the most recent poll conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Matching a fourth-place regional finish in 2017, this year’s NMU women may find it to be a fortuitous year to be chosen for their 10th appearance at the nationals, considering that the upcoming race will also be held in Kenosha at Wisconsin-Parkside’s home course.

It will actually be the third time the Wildcats have competed in Kenosha this fall, as they were also there for the Lucian Rosa Invitational on Sept. 27, when they came in fourth among 23 teams.

The national finals are scheduled for 11 a.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 22, with 34 schools competing from around the country.

On Saturday, Northern was led — as it has all season — by senior Madi Szymanski, followed closely by freshman Ashley Choponis.

Both were named All-Region after Szymanski finished 11th in 21 minutes, 17.45 seconds on the six-kilometer (3.7-mile) course and Choponis was 20th, less than 25 seconds later in 21:41.78.

The Wildcats rolled up 160 points among its top five runners to match their premeet Midwest Region ranking of No. 4. The three teams ahead of them — Grand Valley State won with 25, Cedarville second with 87 and Lewis third with 90 — had those same rankings premeet, too.

NMU’s group of seven entrants also included senior Sophia Potter, who was 40th in 22:12.20; junior Lamar Gordon, 43rd in 22:15.65; senior Beverly Harper, 46th in 22:20.54; junior Emma Sweeney, 49th in 22:26.00; and junior Dani VanLente, 56th in 22:38.43.

That quintet from Potter through VanLente was separated by less than 30 seconds, with the entire group of seven Wildcats less than 90 seconds apart as the field included almost 200 runners, according to an NMU Sports Information news release about the meet.

GVSU dominated as it did at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet, this time placing three runners in the top four, with Lauren Kiley making it two titles in a row between the GLIAC and Midwest Region meets.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press releases reviewing the meet and new about the NCAA bid. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.