ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Blugolds.com) - For the third year in a row, the UW-Eau Claire women's cross country team won the NCAA Midwest Regional. Today's meet was hosted by Augustana College (Ill.) at Saukie Golf Course.

The Blugolds are one step closer to defending their 2009 NCAA Division III national title after coming in first at the regional with 85 points out of 38 teams. Washington University (Mo.) came in second with 93 points. The two teams automatically advance to the 32-team national championship, which will be contested in Waverly, Iowa next Saturday.

Margaret Ho (Sr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) led the Blugolds with an eighth place finish as she came in with a time of 21:48.4 on the 6,000-meter course.

Elly Prunty (Sr.-Antigo, Wis.) and Alyssa Sybilrud (Jr.-Savage, Minn./Burnsville) were 10th and 11th, respectively, with times of 21:48.8 and 21:49.1.

In 22nd place was Ashlyn Mauer (So.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) while Madi Sawyer (Fr.-Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) rounded out the top five finishers for Eau Claire, coming in 34th.

The top five Blugold finishers also earned All-Region honors as the top 35 runners make the All-Region team.

Winning this year's race was the University of Chicago's Elizabeth Lawton, who finished with a time of 20:57.2 in the 263-runner field.