POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 13, 2010) – Juniors Elizabeth Forbes and Johanna Spangler earned bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Waverly, Iowa, as announced by the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee on Sunday afternoon. Wartburg College will host the championships, November 20, at Max Championship Cross Country Course. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time followed by the women's race at noon Eastern time.

Forbes and Spangler placed a respective 13th and 16th overall in the NCAA Atlantic Regional meet hosted by SUNY Oneonta on Saturday. With five teams selected for the National Championships from the Atlantic Region, both Forbes and Spangler earned individual qualification spots to the national meet.

For the first time this season, Forbes led Vassar at the finish line, placing 12th overall in the 6k Regional Meet in 22:50.2. Spangler finished 15th overall (22:54.4), After missing the 2009 cross country season due to injury, Forbes came back in the spring of 2010 to earn All-ECAC honors in the 5,000m in track competion. Spangler is a 2008 National Championship Qualifier, and was a provisional qualifier for NCAA's in the 5,000m and 10,000m track events last spring.

This fall both runners have earned All-Seven Sisters, All-Liberty League, and All-Regional honors, and served as co-captains for the cross country team.

"We are ecstatic for both Johanna and Elizabeth,” said head coach James McCowan. “They have been integral components of our team efforts all season long, and have more than earned their spots at Nationals. I know that they would both rather be traveling with the entire team to the National Championships, but they are ready to represent Vassar well next Saturday."

Each of the eight NCAA regions qualify the top two teams, with the top five teams being eligible for at large births. The top seven individuals not on a qualifying team also qualify. The Atlantic Region qualified five teams and the Brewers finished 6th.