Nov. 16, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri cross country team travels to Ames, Iowa, for the 2000 NCAA Championships Mon., Nov. 20. The women's 6K race begins at 11:00 a.m. and the men's 10K begins at 12:15 p.m. The MU harriers ran at the Iowa State Cross Country Course once this season, when they competed in the Pre-Nationals Oct. 14. This season marks the sixth-straight year that the women have earned a trip to nationals and it is the men's third consecutive berth to the NCAAs. It is also the third time both the Mizzou women and men will compete at nationals together.

"Both teams are excited about the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships. Making it to the championships is a tremendous accomplishment for any team," said cross country Head Coach Jared Wilmes.

Overall, this is the men's ninth appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Missouri men finished sixth in 1967 and 1970. The Mizzou women have made eight national championship appearances. The women recorded a seventh-place finish at the 1984 championships.

The Tiger men automatically qualified for the NCAAs with their 98-point, second-place performance at the Midwest Regionals in Waterloo, Iowa, Nov. 11. Senior Nick Smith's third-place finish was the highest since his eighth-place showing at last year's Regionals.

"Nick has provided tremendous leadership for the team and it is nice to see a kid from Columbia (Hickman HS) doing so well. His teammates regard him as a guy that gets it done," Wilmes remarked.

The Missouri women scored 124 points and finished third at the Regionals. The Tigers were led by sophomore Kerry Hils, junior Ann Marie Brooks, and senior Katie Meyer, who finished 7th, 12th and 17th respectively. The MU women received their at-large bid to the championships Nov. 13.