SELINSGROVE, Pa. – For the first time since 1984, Susquehanna University will be represented at this Saturday’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, held at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.

Senior Mike Lehtonen and sophomore Ryan Gleason will compete in the men’s championship race while senior Kim Owen will participate in the women’s title run. The women’s race will begin at noon EST (11 a.m. CST) while the men’s race will begin at 1 p.m. EST (noon CST).

Each field will consist of 215 runners, with 24 squads of seven runners each competing for the team title joined by 47 at-large racers.

“They are very excited to be representing the program and the university,” said third-year head coach Craig Penney. “They have prepared well and are ready to race.”

Lehtonen (Laurens, NY/Morris Central H.S.) finished 14th at the NCAA Mideast Regional meet at Lehigh last weekend with a season-best time of 26:14.20. He has earned five top-ten finishes this season and placed fourth at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships.

Gleason (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop H.S.) placed 13th at the NCAA Mideast Regional meet with a time of 26:09.33. He has finished in the top 10 six times this season, including a fifth-place finish at the MAC Championships.

Owen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin H.S.) became the first Susquehanna women’s runner to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships after finishing 11th with a time of 18:52.78. She has earned five top-five finishes this season, including a fifth-place finish at the MAC Championships.

The trio give Penney a total of 10 NCAA qualifiers in cross country during his 22-year career and give Susquehanna its first runners at the championships since the 1984 men’s squad won the MAC title and finished 21st at the NCAA meet.

“I’m especially excited for Mike and Kim, because as seniors this has been their goal for the season and career,” said Penney. “I want them to have fun and a positive experience. It’s a great chance to race at the next level, and it should be a lot of fun and exciting for all of us.”

The group was scheduled to fly from Harrisburg to Chicago and then on to Moline, Illinois on Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s competition.