Cedar Rapids, Iowa - The Central Methodist Women's Cross Country program opened postseason competition at the Heart of America Conference Championship Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

The meet, hosted by fellow Heart school Mount Mercy University, featured 114 total runners representing 13 different institutions. 

Central finished fourth in the team standings with 130 total points. It marks the highest finish for the program since they placed fourth at the 2016 meet in Kansas City. 

Freshman Tara Ozinga led the charge for Central, as the native of the Netherlands ran the 6K in a time of 22:39.5 to finish fourth. With her fourth-place finish, Ozinga earned First Team All-Conference honors and qualified for the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo. 

She is the first runner on the women's side to qualify for nationals since 2018. 

Ali Gutierrez followed with a 21st-place finish, crossing the finish line at 23:55.7. Ella Strehlow placed 32nd in 24:33.9 while Morgan Waltmire also cracked the Top 40 at 39th with a time of 24:53.8. 

Molly Milazzo (48th - 25:35.6), Madison Horn (81st - 28:03.4) and Cynthia Resor (91st - 28:52.3) also ran for the Eagles. 

Mount Mercy won the team title with 36 points, followed by Benedictine College (49) and third place Baker (104). 

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