NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women’s cross country team received one of 16 at-large bids to the 2012 NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 17. This is the second consecutive year that the Knights will send the entire team to the national meet and eighth time in program history.

Thirty-two teams are selected to participate in the championship, 16 automatic qualifiers—the top two teams from each of the eight regions—and another 16 at-large berths.

In order to be eligible for an at-large spot in the championships, teams must finish between third and fifth in their respective NCAA regions.

Luther College, which finished third at the Central Region Championships yesterday, received an invitation as did both Carleton and Gustavus Adolphus—squads that tied for fourth place at regionals—giving the region the maximum of five teams to participate at next weekend’s meet. Wartburg College and St. Olaf College earned the region’s automatic spots.

The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is hosting the championships on Nov. 17, at the LaVern Gibson Course in Terre Haute, Ind. The men’s race will begin at 10 a.m. CT followed by the women’s race at 11 a.m. CT.