Nov. 13, 2008
Untitled Document
Championships Central | NCAA Cross Country Championships Handbook
COLUMBIA, Mo.—The Missouri cross country teams will travel to Stillwater, Okla., for the NCAA Midwest Region Championships this weekend. The women will run a six-kilometer race and run at 11 a.m., Saturday, with the men's 10-kilometer race to follow at 11:45 a.m. The Tiger men are ranked sixth in the region by the USTFCCCA. The Midwest Region is comprised of all Division I schools in eight spots. The top two teams in each region automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship meet.
NCAA Midwest Region Championships
Stillwater, Okla., OSU Cross Country Course, Saturday, November 15
Start Time/Distance: Women, 11 a.m., 6k; Men, 11:45 a.m., 10k
Championships Central
USTFCCCA Midwest Region rankings (USTFCCCA National ranking in parentheses)
MEN
1. Oklahoma State (2), 2. Minnesota (14), 3. Tulsa (15), 4. Iowa State (21), 5. Southern Illinois, 6. MISSOURI, 7. Iowa, 8. Illinois State, 9. Nebraska, 10. Kansas
WOMEN
1. Minnesota (7), 2. Illinois (14), 3. Iowa (20), 4. Nebraska (29), 5. Kansas State, 6. Oklahoma State, 7. Tulsa, 8. Wichita State, 9. Missouri State, 10. Kansas, 14. MISSOURI
About the Regional Championships …
Each of the NCAA's Division I squads participate in one of seven regional championships that will all occur Saturday. The Midwest Region is comprised of 30 men's teams and 33 women's squads from nine states – Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
The top two teams from each region will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championship meet to be held Monday, November 24. In addition, 13 at-large bids will be earned from the remaining pool of teams based on regular-season performances versus qualified teams and those receiving consideration.
The top two individuals NOT on a nationally qualified team will earn an individual ticket to the NCAA Championships.
On the men's side, Oklahoma State, fresh of winning its first Big 12 title is ranked second in the country and is the favorite with No. 14 Minnesota and No. 15 Tulsa as the second- and third-ranked teams. No. 21 Iowa State holds the fourth spot in the rankings with Mizzou at sixth. Nebraska and Kansas are also in the top 10 of the region.
Minnesota is the region's top-ranked team for the women's competition. No. 29 Nebraska is the highest-ranked Big 12 squad in the region at fourth. Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Kansas, holds the five, six, and 10 spots.
Quickly About Mizzou …
The Tiger men finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago, topping then-ranked No. 30 Texas to place in the league's top half for the fifth-straight season in a row. Junior Garett Jeffries placed 16th individually as the Tigers' top scorer.
Last year at the region meet Tiger Dan Hedgecock placed 13th and was later awarded an at-large, individual selection into the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Kinsey Farren has led the Tiger women in each of the squad's meets this season and placed 47th at the Big 12 meet.
###