The Central Methodist cross-country teams opened postseason competition at the Heart of America Conference Championship Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

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

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

Freshman Tara Ozinga led the charge for Central. The native of the Netherlands ran the 6K in a time of 22:39.5 to finish fourth, good enough for First Team All-Conference honors. She also qualifies for the NAIA National Championships on November 22 in Columbia. 

Ozinga 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). 

The CMU men posted a sixth-place finish with 182 total points at the Heart of America Championship Saturday.

The meet featured 124 runners representing 14 different Heart institutions.

Mount Mercy won the team title with 69 points, followed by Park (81), and Benedictine College (83). 

Kyle Newberry led CMU in the 8K, posting a time of 25:38.5 to finish 16th, just one placement shy of earning all-conference honors. Teammate Grant Engel landed in the Top 20 at No. 18, running a time of 25:48. 

Meshack Kiptanui (44th - 27:16.5), Elvis Kipkosgei (59th - 27:49.2), Doriye Jackson (74th - 28:33.3), Jacchaeus Taylor (77th - 28:42.4), and Elliott Reed (96th - 29:59.8), also ran for the Eagles.