The Shippensburg University women's cross country team finished in fifth place Saturday at the 2024 NCAA Atlantic Region Championships hosted by Lock Haven at its West Branch Cross Country Course.

Shippensburg, which entered the week slotted third in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region rankings, was unable to earn a nationals berth, but each runner delivered a significant PR on a sunny and cool day in Clinton County.
 
Saturday's race figured to be a tight one atop the standings and that held true – first through fifth place were separated by 63 points. Davis & Elkins (93 points), Slippery Rock (100 points) and East Stroudsburg (114 points) – the three teams to earn berths to the national championships – were separated by just 17 points. Charleston took fourth place, only six points ahead of the Raiders.
 
Finishing consecutively in 18th through 20th place were senior Victoria Mattioli, freshman Ella Hartel and graduate Kelsey Hull – performances that resulted in the first USTFCCA All-Atlantic Region classifications of their career.
 
Mattioli, who was SU's No. 3 runner at last year's regional championships, improved 21 places from last season and crossed the finish line in 21:46. Hartel, in her regional championships debut, was just two-tenths of a second behind. Hull was only 1.2 seconds behind Hartel – improving by 33 places from last season. It was the third career regional championship race for Mattioli and Hull.
 
Freshman Shaela Kruskie finished 51st in her regional championships debut with a time of 22:31.8, while junior Katy Todd was the final Raider scorer after finishing 56th in 22:34. Freshman Victoria Bartholomew placed 58th with a time of 22:37.
 
Junior Livi Rieck, a two-time All-Region performer, was unable to complete Saturday's race.
 
The regional meet concluded SU's cross country season.
 
Shippensburg (5th, 156 points)
18. Victoria Mattioli 21:46.0 (PR by 50 seconds)
19. Ella Hartel 21:46.2 (PR by 1:03)
20. Kelsey Hull 21:47.4 (PR by 1:01)
51. Shaela Kruskie 22:31.8 (PR by 1:42)
56. Katy Todd 22:34.4 (PR by 46 seconds)
58. Victoria Bartholomew 22:37.1 (PR by 49 seconds)
 
Shippensburg at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships:
(last eight championship meets)
2024: 5th, 156 points (18-19-20-51-56)
2023: 5th, 204 points (19-29-39-53-68)
2022: 7th, 198 points (20-24-31-65-69)
2021: 9th, 233 points (16-21-28-76-97)
2020: No championships
2019: 10th, 275 points (21-28-69-78-79)
2018: 3rd, 96 points (6-9-24-25-32)
2017: 2nd, 95 points (10-13-23-26-28)
2016: 1st, 57 points (1-6-13-18-21)