The Minnesota women's cross country team placed fourth at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Peoria, Ill., on Saturday. The Golden Gophers scored 128 team points to finish fourth, trailing Missouri (52), Illinois (93) and Oklahoma State (113).

Junior Lauren Williams captured all-region honors by placing 19th, covering the 6-kilometer course in a time of 21 minutes, 14.95 seconds, a personal-best time and the seventh-fastest time in school history. Williams has finished as the number-one runner fro the Gophers in all six meets this season.

The Golden Gophers packed their scoring runners well, landing all five within 13 places of each other. "We placed fourth but it was a very good fourth for us," said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. "We scored our top runner at 18 and our fifth at 31, so we ran with a tight pack, and I was very pleased with our effort."

Freshman Ladia Albertson-Junkans finished one place out of all-region honors, tabbing a 26th-place finish in 21:28.97. Albertson-Junkans also finish one spot from All-Big Ten honors two weeks ago.

Also scoring for the Gophers were Emily Brown in 28th in 21:34.32, Harper McConnell in 31st in 21:36.57 and Jen Hess in 33rd in 21:37.40.

Minnesota will learn if it was selected as an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 22.