JAMESTOWN, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Grace Miller punched her ticket to nationals Friday with a strong race at the North Star Athletic Association Cross Country Championships.

Battling snow, temps around 25 degrees and a 15 mile per hour wind, Miller ran just six seconds off her season-best time as she placed third overall at the meet with a time of 19:08. She earned one of four individual spots for NSAA runners at the NAIA Championships Nov. 18 in Vancouver, Wash.

Miller’s strong race anchored an overall strong performance by the VCSU women’s team, which placed third out of six teams. It was a huge one-year improvement for the Vikings, who finished last in the conference last season. Miller was named All Conference after finished in the Top 10.

The Vikings had four runners finish in the Top 20. Julianne Wilson finished 15th in a time of 20:42; Allyssa Weitkum placed 17th in 20:46; and Kristina Fricke took 20th overall with a time of 21:03. Peyton Halverson rounded out VCSU’s team score of 85 by placing 30th. Both Wilson and Fricke ran collegiate-best times at the conference meet.

Dickinson State overwhelming won the women’s title with a score of 27, which included five runners in the Top 8. University of Jamestown took second with a score of 66.

Waldorf’s Marissa Kuik won the individual conference title with a blistering time of 18:33.

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next: Valley City State’s Grace Miller will compete for the Vikings at the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 18 in Vancouver, Wash.