Clarke College freshman Katie Hemesath, of Dubuque, Iowa, earned an automatic berth in the NAIA National Cross Country Meet later this month in Kenosha, Wis., by placing second individually at the 2008 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday.

Hemesath, a product of Wahlert Catholic High School, finished the 5K race at Ewing Park with a time of 20:02. Hemesath's second-place showing earned her all-conference honors.

The NAIA national meet will be contested on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Clarke sophomore Carley Freund placed 19th individually for the Crusaders, who finished fifth overall.

Sophomore Hunter Hills, of Swisher, Iowa, finished the 8K men's race in a time of 30:10 to lead Clarke to a sixth-place finish.