It’s always good to finish a season strong when a team heads into its offseason workouts.

The ISU women’s cross country team hopes to do just that when it travels to Minneapolis for what could be the team’s last meet, the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday.

The Cyclones hope to be one of the top two teams or one of the 13 at-large teams selected to move on to nationals after the regionals have run, but their best chance for anyone to qualify is probably sophomore Lisa Koll’s placing in the top four runners that are not on qualifying teams.

The teams that have the best chance to qualify from the Midwest regional are probably the host school, the University of Minnesota, and Illinois. Oklahoma State may also have a chance to get in.

Coach Dick Lee said the Cyclones hope to finish in the top 10 in the team race.

“We would need Kelsey [Bulat] to finish in the top 20 or 30 and another couple of kids to finish in the 80 to 110 range,” Lee said. “We’re looking for a couple of kids to have better races than the conference meet.

“Also, we’re about as healthy as we can be at this time of the season as well.”

The Cyclones finished 15th a year ago, and their top finisher was Koll, who ended up in 32nd place.

Lee said he thinks Koll has a great shot to qualify for nationals this year.

Koll said she thinks she has a good chance to make it to nationals as well.

“I just have to race like I have been all year,” Koll said. “If I do that, I am set up to be there.”

Koll’s lowest finish this year has been seventh place, and if things work out and she finishes seventh or higher, that may put her in the NCAA Championships.

Koll also said she credits her success this season to all the time she put in during the summer and the increased mileage she ran.

“I have been running smart and staying healthy,” Koll said. “I have just devoted my life to running and staying focused and concentrated on my goals.

If Koll or any of the other Cyclones qualify for nationals, they will run Nov. 20 in Terre Haute, Ind.