HANOVER, Ind. – Senior Lilly Duarte joins an exclusive list of Southwestern women Saturday as she becomes only the second Pirate to compete at the NCAA III Cross Country National Championships.

Earning the trip to Saturday's national championships wasn't easy, but reaching those goals set during the preseason now has Duarte's eyes set every athlete's ultimate dream. Head Coach Francie Larrieu Smith remembers a conversation all the way back from preseason with Duarte who will compete in her final race for Southwestern on the highest stages.

"We sat in my office and her two main goals were to set the Southwestern 6k record and earn a trip to the NCAA National Championships," Smith recalls.

Duarte can now check both of those items off her list. The senior earned her trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships after a ninth place finish at the NCAA Regional Championships in Newport News, Virginia last week.

Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (CST) she will attack the cross country course on the campus of Hanover College one final time.

All coaches and athletes strive to hit their peak at the end of the season. Despite the odds that prevent so many athletes from peaking at the right time, Duarte has worked her way into a perfect position for Saturday's race.

"Lilly is hitting her peak cycle right now," Smith said. "She worked really hard to get where she is at this year and the way it is unfolding couldn't have worked out better for her."

As only the second female to race at the NCAA National Championships Duarte has already made her mark on the Southwestern cross country program. More evidence of her peaking at the right time can be shown by her two record breaking races this season.

She broke the Southwestern record in the 5k – a record that had stood since 1995 – as she raced to a time of 18:13.2 at the Concordia Invitational in October. However, the last race Duarte competed in was even more impressive.

Last week's race at the NCAA Regional Championships she broke her own 6k record at Southwestern. Duarte covered the course in 22:47.3 earning a top 10 finish and crossing off that final wish list, a spot in the NCAA National Championships.

After checking off preseason goals with one race left the ease and natural competitiveness of running has brought Duarte to almost an ideal ending of sorts.

With favorable conditions predicated for Saturday's race, knowing she gave it her all on the course is a new added goal. Every athlete dreams of walking away the final time in the last possible moment and Duarte has that opportunity.