The championship season began for the Southwestern women's cross country team on Saturday, Oct. 29, as the team competed at the Region XI Championships hosted by North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. Competing over 5,000m, the Spartan women placed sixth out of seven full teams. Leading the way for the team was freshman Kimberly Zepeda (Rockford, IL), who earned Second Team All-Region honors with her 10th place finish in a time of 20:14. Zepeda was the first Spartan runner to achieve Second Team All-Region since Kalli McCann placed 10th in 2012. Freshman Alyssa Proffitt (Afton) earned Honorable Mention All-Region honors with her 25th place finish in a time of 21:25. Odette Muziranenge (West Des Moines) placed 40th in 23:39, Jenna Faust placed 43rd in 24:00, and Jasmine Forward placed 51st in 25:28 to conclude the scoring for the Spartans.

"Our women ran well today against tough competition," said Spartan Head Coach Nick Ekel. "To have multiple all-region performers for the first time since 2012 shows that our program is improving and that fact is directly attributed to the hard work these women have done this season."

The Spartan women will travel to Butler Community College in El Dorado, KS on Saturday, Nov. 12, for the NJCAA Cross Country Championships. For updates on the cross country and track & field teams, follow on Twitter @SWCC_Track_XC.

Kimberly Zepeda 10th, 20:14

Alyssa Proffitt 25th, 21:25

Odette Muziranenge 40th, 23:39

Jenna Faust 43rd, 24:00

Jasmine Forward 51st, 25:28

Madison Mace 57th, 30:05