Kaitlyn Knoche earned a return trip to the NAIA Championships and Luke Getz earned all-conference honors as St. Ambrose hosted the CCAC Cross Country Championships at Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf, Iowa, Saturday.

Knoche, who ran at the 2023 championships as a freshman, set a PR with a fourth-place time of 22:24.9 in the women's 6K race. She will represent St. Ambrose at the NAIA Championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., on Nov. 22.

On the men's side, Getz finished 14th overall. He set an 8K PR with a time of 26:02.3 to lead SAU. The top 15 finishers are awarded all-conference recognition.

A total of eight Bees finished inside the top 30 of the men's competition, with all eight crossing the line inside the 27-minute mark.

Ian Eller was 18th overall with a PR of 26:19.1. He narrowly edged teammate Chris Miserendino, who was 19th in 26:20.8. Luke Benes finished 23rd in 26:29.7, Will Dowda was 24th in 26:32.4, Kale Cartee was 27th in a PR of 26:40.4, Ross Willerth was 29th in 26:46.4 and Noah Maske was 30th in 26:48.0.

The SAU men finished fourth overall. St. Francis won the conference title with Olivet Nazarene taking second and Saint Xavier placing third.

Also running for the men were Nathan Boleyn (27:31.4), Kevin Chaney (28:00.8), Bryan Flentge (28:11.7), Gavin Stalzer (28:22.1), Brennon Munch (28:53.7), Anthony Conard (30:18.0), Donnie Ingram III (31:43.4), Shyam Devasthali (32:57.3), Jack Degner (33:29.2) and Benett Boatright (34:12.7).

Knoche was backed up by Lexi Minard, Adeline Smith and Allison Hein. Minard was 23rd overall in 23:56.5. Smith (24:03.2) and Hein (24:32.7) finished 25th and 26th, respectively.

Lauren Johnson set a personal best by finishing the race in 25:20.6, good for 39th place. 

The St. Ambrose women were fifth, just a point behind fourth-place Governors State. Olivet Nazarene won the conference championship with St. Francis and Viterbo rounding out the top three.

Carlie Woolm (26:21.0), Rileigh Fortune (27:06.3), Loryn Heil (29:50.3), Jayne Eilderts (30:31.9) and Eileen Elenteny (30:49.7) also ran for the Bees.