SIOUX FALLS — Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli captured a fourth-place finish in the Girls Championship 5,000-meter run at the Nike Cross Country Heartland Regional on Sunday.

The top-five finish earned Castelli an automatic berth to the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 2.

The top two placing clubs in each gender of the championship division race at each regional will earn automatic berths to Nike Cross Nationals in Portland. Additionally, the top five placing individuals who are not on qualifying clubs will advance to Nike Cross Nationals as individual qualifiers.

In the Heartland Regional, Castelli, who won the Class AA state cross-country title in October, covered the 5,000-meter distance in 17:20.8 seconds on Sunday. Forest Lake’s Norah Hushhagen, a Minnesota cross-country champion, won the race in 17:07.3 and edged out Kansas champion Katelyn Rupe (17:07.6).

Spearfish’s Peyton VanDeest  (17:36.2) placed eighth. 

The Nike Cross Nationals comprises eight regional qualifying meets and the National Finals in Portland. The Nike Cross Nationals run at Glendoveer Golf Course offers athletes a premium, challenging championship venue for putting it all on the line.