GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Rachel Krasich (Westfield, Ind.) became the first female student-athlete in school history to qualify for an individual NCAA Division III women's national championship with a cross country school record performance on Saturday.

Krasich placed 11th individually in the NCAA Division III Regional at Calvin College on Saturday.  Her school record time of 22:06 smashed her previous six-kilometer school record by nearly 50 seconds.

"Rachel did a wonderful job today and deserves to qualify for the national championship.  This is the culmination of four years of hard work for a wonderful individual and a true student-athlete," said head coach Matt Cole.

Other competitors for Rose-Hulman included sophomore Melissa Rogers (Crawfordsville/ Southmont) with a time of 23:46; senior Sue Nickol (Solon, Ohio/Beaumont School) with a time of 24:09; and senior Jill DeClerck (Palatine, Ill/William Fremd) with a time of 24:59.

Krasich will compete at the NCAA Division III National Championships at St. Olaf College in Minnesota next Saturday.