LOUISVILLE - Midwestern State struggled through the snow and the mud for a 17th place showing in the NCAA Division II Championship Saturday afternoon at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.

"They were slipping and sliding," MSU coach Koby Styles said. "We were just a bit out of our element. Yesterday, it was perfect with the temperature around 40-45 degrees. The race would have been a different race had we run yesterday."

The Mustangs claimed five meet championships this season including their third consecutive Lone Star Conference title, but it was not to be at the NCAA II Championships.

Two-time all-region performer Sydnee Cole led the Mustangs placing 80th in the field of 187 with a time of 23:08.40 and was followed by LSC Freshman of the Year Ashley Flores who was 99th with a time of 23:26.40.

Junior Brissia Montalvo, who has ran as MSU's No. 1 most of the season, struggled through the conditions to finish 100th with a time of 23:27.20, while freshman Janel Campbell (143rd) and junior Lindsey Pate (174th) closed out the Mustangs' counters with times of 24:17.30 and 25:35.20, respectively.

Freshman Cara Mack finished 178th with a time of 25:45.90 and sophomore Melody Caldwell was 187th with a time of 27:36.00.

"This is a big experience gainer for our freshman. Now they know what to expect," Styles said. "We're just looking to build on this and keep the ball rolling."

Grand Valley State claimed the national team championship with a score of 66 while Western State (Colo.) (95), Adams State (Colo.) (98), Shippensburg (Pa.) (114) and Chico State (Calif.) (164) rounded out the Top 5.

The Mustangs finished behind South Central Region competitors Pittsburg State (Kan.) (12th/312) and Missouri Southern (16th/490).

Shippensburg junior Neely Spence raced to an individual national title with a time of 20:41.20.

"We can't be too mad about a 17th place finish," Styles said. "Just getting here, we proved a lot of people wrong. We went through the season with only one loss to a nationally ranked Division II squad. It was a great year."

Midwestern State finished 15th at the 2007 NCAA II Championships in Slippery Rock, Pa. which was also run in the snow.