Somonauk's Emily Paull qualifies for NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships

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AURORA, IL (11/18/2013)(readMedia)-- For the first time in the history of the Aurora University cross country program, a Spartan student-athlete has qualified to compete in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

The NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee announced the team and individual qualifiers for the 2013 Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Sunday, November 17.

AU junior Emily Paull (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk H.S.) finished 12th in the 6k at the 2013 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional with a time of 22:15.3 which marked a new Spartan school record. Her time was good enough to qualify as one of 56 individuals to compete in the 2013 Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships.

In order to be eligible to participate in the championships, teams and individuals must qualify in their respective NCAA regions.

Thirty-two teams were selected to participate in each championship. The top two, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the eight regions, for a total of 16 teams.

Sixteen additional teams were selected at large. Fifty-six individuals, the first seven athletes from each region who are not a part of a qualifying team, were selected to participate in each championship.

Hanover College will host the championships on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at its' nationally renowned cross country course in Hanover, Ind. The women's race will begin at 11 a.m. (EST).

About Aurora University

Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning, annually educating more than 4,800 degree-seeking students at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. More than 600 students annually participate in the university's 20 NCAA Division III athletics programs. In addition to its main campus in Aurora, Ill., AU offers programs online, at its George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wis., and the Woodstock Center in downtown Woodstock, Ill. Learn more at aurora.edu.