DUBUQUE — Tricia Serres, a 2012 graduate of Platteville High School, was named the Iowa Conference MVP following her performance at the league’s cross country championships at Loras College on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The top-15 runners at the Iowa Conference Championships are named all-conference performers.

Serres was named the league MVP after capturing the individual title by a 30 second margin (22:39) over runner-up Maggie Saenz-Ruiz of Loras (23:09).

With this honor Serres joins Linda Swenson (1982, 1984, 1985) and Johanna Olson (1999, 2000, 2001) as the only Luther runners to be named league MVP three times. Serres efforts also earned her all-conference honors a fourth time, an accomplishment achieved by six runners in Norse history, the last was Janet Dobyns (2005–08).

Luther finished second in the team standings posting 55 points. Loras College claimed the conference title with 42 points, and Wartburg College was third with 58.

Luther’s varsity (top-seven) returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 14, when they will travel to the NCAA Division III Central Regional Championships hosted by Central College, Pella, Iowa. The women’s race will take place at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s race that starts at noon.

The top two teams from each of the eight regions will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championships for a total of 16. The final 16 teams will be selected as at-large bids, with no limit on the number of teams selected per region. Also, the top seven individuals not on a national qualifying team from each region will qualify for the NCAA III National Championships.

The 2015 NCAA Division III cross country national championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne.

Luther has made 14 appearances at the NCAA III National Championships finishing in the top-10 six times.
Serres is the daughter of Rob and Heidi Serres of Platteville.