PROVO, Utah -- The Northern Arizona men’s cross country team earned an NCAA Championships automatic qualification Saturday by finishing second in the NCAA Mountain Region by scoring 93 points. Colorado won the men’s 10,000-meter event by scoring 48. The women’s team also secured themselves a chance at an invitation by finishing third (81 points) behind BYU (31 points) and Colorado (48 points). The NCAA will announce the national fields Monday, Nov. 12.

Finishing in fourth-place overall for the women’s 6,000-meter event was freshman Ida Nilsson (21 minutes, 26.2 seconds), who is fresh off a Big Sky Championship individual title. Sophomore Travis Laird finished first for the men’s team (31:09), placing fifth overall. Other top-10 finishers for the Lumberjacks were Susie Rutherford on the women’s side (6th, 21:37.2), and Henrik Ahnstrom for the men (8th, 31:26.7).

“This is what we needed to do,” said NAU head coach Ron Mann. “We came here to get through regionals and gain entry to the national meet.”

For the men it will be their fourth-straight appearance to the national championships. The women are likely to return to the meet after falling short for a bid for nationals last season. The NCAA Championships will be held Monday, Nov. 19, in Greenville, S.C.

With the victories, Northern Arizona head coach Ron Mann won his 52nd conference title (men and women's cross country and track and field combined). The mark of 52 is the most won by any coach coaching any sport in the history of the Big Sky Conference.

"Winning this one was especially special," said Mann. "There were tremendous performances on both sides, and I was especially pleased with Nillsson winning as a freshman and Henrik’s performance. They were great, the teams were great, and it’s a tremendous accomplishment to score under 25 points at the conference meet. “

NAU cross country travels next to the NCAA Mountain Regionals in Provo, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 10.