FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After a runner-up finish last year and a top five finish in 2012, No. 10 Northern Arizona men's cross country returns to the NCAA National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind. They are joined by individual qualifier Melanie Townsend from the women's team. 

Futsum Zienasellassie led the Lumberjacks again last weekend at the NCAA Mountain Regional hosted by New Mexico with his second-place finish and 10K time of 29:48.62. Zienasellassie has finished in the top two at every meet he has competed in during the 2014 season and won his first Big Sky Championship on Nov. 1 at North Dakota.

Matt McElroy, Caleb Hoover and Tyler Byrne posted All-Region finishes at the Mountain Regional. McElroy posted a fifth-place finish – his fifth top five finish of the year – and 10K time of 29:56.00. Caleb Hoover had his first All-Region honor with his 14th-place finish and Byrne was 17th.

The 'Jacks have All-Big Sky Nathan Weitz back this weekend after he sat out last Friday.

"Having Nathan back could lower our score at nationals by 40-60 points," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. "He's always been running with Tyler, and they've both been getting better every week."

The 'Jacks followed returning national champion, No. 1 Colorado, at the regional meet with a score of 68 points. The Buffalos put their entire top five in the top 13 to earn a score of 45 points.

"We start talking about bringing home a national championship and there are several things that have to go your way including a little bit of luck," said Heins. "We just have to run within ourselves and compete to the best of our ability."

The 'Jacks held onto their No. 10 USTFCCCA Coaches' Poll ranking this week, keeping them in the top 10 for the entire season. They have been ranked as high as second this season. No. 1 Colorado kept the top spot by unanimous vote for the entire season for the first time since Wisconsin did it in 2006.  

Townsend finished eighth overall at the Mountain Regional to earn herself an individual bid to Terre Haute. She stuck with the lead pack for the entire 6K in New Mexico and posted a time of 21:21.62.

"We always knew she was very talented," said Assistant Coach Leah Rosenfeld about Townsend's season. "Coming off a really good outdoor season, we knew she was going to have a good season. Every race this season, she's actually raced. That's sometimes hard to do. She goes out with the lead pack and takes a chance. We've been really proud of what she's done this season. Nationals is just icing on the cake for her."

While the women's team hasn't appeared at the national championships since 2009, this is the third-straight year they've sent an individual qualifier.

"We've had a tradition of female runners being All-Americans over the past 15-20 years," said Rosenfeld. "This year, Melanie has the chance to be an All-American and re-ignite that tradition. That's what we're hoping for this weekend."

Townsend races first in the women's 6K at 12 p.m. on Saturday followed by the men's 10K at 1 p.m. Information about the meet can be found at www.XCTownUSA.com