WEST SALEM, WIS.(VCSUVikings.com) – Grace Miller and Allyssa Weitkum both qualified for nationals and the Valley City State women’s cross country team took second place Saturday at the NSAA Conference Championships.

The Viking women totaled 52 team points Saturday as they finished second to Dickinson State, which scored 30 points and has now won four straight NSAA titles. Dickinson State earns the conference’s automatic bid to the national championships after all five of their scoring runners placed in the Top 10. Dakota State totaled 80 points and finished third, followed by Waldorf (97), Viterbo (128), Bellevue (165) and Presentation College (175).

Senior Grace Miller led the Vikings with a second-place finish, completing the 5K course in a time of 19:11. Weitkum was not too far behind as she placed sixth with a time of 19:56. Both Miller and Weitkum earned spots at the NAIA National Championships, which will be held Nov. 16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The top four individuals not on the winning team advanced to nationals.

It is the second straight season that Miller will compete at nationals, and it’s the first appearance for Weitkum. Both Miller and Weitkum earned All-Conference honors as well by finishing in the Top 10.

Viking freshman Angeline Gannon just missed All-Conference as she placed 11th on Saturday, crossing the line with a time of 20:30. Kristina Fricke placed 13th in a time of 20:40. Julianne Wilson rounded out VCSU’s team score by placing 20th in a time of 22:18. Tanya Campos took 22nd after racing the course in 22:36.

The second-place team finish is the highest VCSU’s women have placed in the conference since the cross country programs were reinstated in 2010. The Viking women took third last season.

Waldorf’s Marissa Kuik ran away with the individual title, winning by 48 seconds after completing the course in a time of 18:23.

Up next: Miller and Weitkum will compete at the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.