Illinois Springfield senior Madelyn Miller-Ross will toe the line at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship on Saturday morning, marking the GLVC champion's first career appearance at the national meet in cross country and the third NCAA championship event of her collegiate career.

Miller-Ross, who qualified as an individual out of the stacked Midwest Region, will race in the women's 6K at 10:00 a.m. CT at the Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis. She earned her spot in the field after running a lifetime-best 21:16 at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships two weeks ago—a performance that came on one of the region's most demanding courses and solidified her status among the nation's top individuals.

A 2024 indoor 5K All-American, Miller-Ross will look to add cross country All-American honors in the final race of her senior season. She has consistently lined up against some of the country's strongest programs this fall, gaining valuable experience that will serve her well in this championship race. The national field consists of 24 automatic qualifying teams from the NCAA's eight regions, 10 at-large teams, and the top individuals not on those qualifying squads. Among the familiar programs and competitors she'll see are Cedarville and Lewis, along with standout individuals from teams such as Hillsdale and Washburn.

The East Moline, Ill., native enters the championship after a standout season in which she captured her first GLVC title and helped lead UIS to a third-place conference finish and its first-ever regional ranking. Saturday's race offers the chance to close her collegiate cross country career on the sport's biggest stage.

Follow Along
Fans can watch live on NCAA.com, and results will be available through Leone Timing.