(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov. 7)--Park University won its first American Midwest Conference since returning to the league this fall, capturing top honors at the AMC Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday at Forest Park in St. Louis.

The Pirates edged runner-up William Woods University for the team championship. Park placed five of its runners in the top nine to claim the conference title. William Woods had three of its runners in the top six. By winning the team championship, Park earns the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA Cross Country National Championship, which will be held Nov. 21 in Vancouver, Wash.

For the third consecutive year, Meagan Hudson of Missouri Baptist University won the AMC individual championship. Hudson, a senior, covered Saturday's five-kilometer course in a time of 18:15.86. Hudson held off Park's Romona Nicolls by 15 seconds for the title. Hudson earned the conference's Runner of the Year award with her winning effort.

With her fourth-place finish, junior Alex Harkins of Park University earned AMC Newcomer of the Year honors. Amy Gangloff of William Woods was sixth in the field and received AMC Freshman of the Year accolades. Park's Brian Renshaw was selected as the AMC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Hudson heads a field of five individual runners that earned a berth at the NAIA Cross Country National Championship. The trio of Kristi Palmer, Cheryl Held and Amy Gangloff from William Woods are joined by Gracie Boelsems of Stephens College in the national field.

For complete race results, click here. Listed below are the members of the AMC Men's Cross Country All-Conference team, as well as the Academic All-Conference recipients. Student-athletes must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale to earn Academic All-Conference honors. Freshman and transfers are not eligible for the award.

AMC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Meagan Hudson, Missouri Baptist
Romona Nicolls, Park
Kristi Palmer, William Woods
Alex Harkins, Park
Cheryl Held, William Woods
Amy Gangloff, William Woods
Kimbery Brown, Park
Sally Sack, Park
Rachel Fessenden, Park
Gracie Boelsems, Stephens

AMC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Carissa Eichmeyer, Hannibal-LaGrange
Janelle McGinniss, Hannibal-LaGrange
Liesl Nauck, Hannibal-LaGrange
Alison Poehler, McKendree
Lauren Richter, McKendree
Airika Tyler, McKendree
Katie Cline, Missouri Baptist
Meagan Hudson, Missouri Baptist
Lauren Scott, Missouri Baptist
Romona Nicolls, Park
Rachel Fessenden, Park

Victoria Gregerson, Stephens
Cheryl Held, William Woods
Jordan Locke, William Woods
Kristi Palmer, William Woods