FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Emily Dean raced to a big day in leading the Indiana Wesleyan University women's cross country team to a runner-up finish at the Mid-Central College Conference Championship on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Dean finished the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19 minutes 45 seconds for an eighth place finish. For her eight place finish, Dean was named MCC All-Conference and also earns a trip to the NAIA National Championships on November 21 in Vancouver, Washington.

Indiana Wesleyan will learn Monday night if the team advances to the national meet courtesy of an at-large bid. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 14 in the nation.

Spring Arbor (Mich.) University took the team title with 30 points with Indiana Wesleyan second at 69 points. Bethel (Ind.) College finished third with 84 points.

Kailee Whitaker missed all-conference honors by one spot with a 13th place finish. She crossed the line in a time of 20:06.

Amanda Johnson was third on the team and she earned 15th place with a time of 20:10 while Anna Morgan was close on her heels in 16th place as she crossed the line at 20:11. The final scorer for Indiana Wesleyan was Cassidy Wagner as she was 17th in a time of 20:19.

Joyce Woki of Spring Arbor won the individual conference championship in a time of 18:24.

Indiana Wesleyan will next race on November 14 at the NCCAA National Championships. The race will be contested at 10 a.m. in Cedarville, Ohio.