ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Graduate student Kelty Oaster returned for one more go and it has paid off this fall as she will represent the Elizabethtown College women's cross country team at the NCAA Div. III Championships on Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind. This is the second straight appearance at the national meet for Oaster.

Last year's Landmark Conference champion ran to a 10th-place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Regional this past weekend at Lock Haven. It is the fourth all-region honor of her career where she has finished no worse than 16th (2021). Oaster took 5th last year at the regional race to qualify for NCAAs with her fastest career 6k time of 21:26.9. She wasn't too far off that time on Saturday with a 21:37.

Oaster seeks to become only the third women's cross country all-american and first since Erin Fisher in 2007. Fisher placed 11th at the 2007 NCAA Div. III Championships. Oaster is the first to compete in consecutive nationals meets for Elizabethtown since Colleen Kernan in 2017 and 2018.

Oaster placed 80th at the 2023 championships, held close to home on what can be considered a home course at Big Spring High School, where she's competed multiple times throughout her career.

This Saturday's race goes off at 11 a.m. Stay tuned to etownbluejays.com and @etownbluejays on social media for updates on Oaster.