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COLUMBIA, Mo. - It's that time of year again for the Mizzou Cross Country teams, as they prepare to wind down their season at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on Friday (November 14) in Peoria, Ill. The Tigers will take to the line against 34 other teams on Bradley University's home course at Newman Golf Course for a chance to secure a spot at the final meet of the season - the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Friday, November 22.
The women will start the day with their 6000-meter race at noon CT, followed by the men's 10,000-meter run at 1 p.m. CT.
THE FIELD
The Midwest Regional field boasts several nationally-ranked programs, as released by the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association). Topping the list for both fields are returning Midwest Team Champions, the Oklahoma State men (No. 4) and the Iowa State women (No. 5). Other ranked teams include the Tulsa men (No. 23), Oklahoma men (No. 26), Iowa State men (RV), Minnesota women (No. 20), Oklahoma State women (RV), and the Tulsa women (RV).
THE TIGER WOMEN
Returning to the course are seven of the women's SEC Championships squad, who had their highest overall finish yet at the conference meet two weeks ago (Oct. 31), taking fourth in the field. Leading the way for the black and gold was sophomore Kaitlyn Fischer, who repeated her sixth-place finish from 2013 to earn her second First Team All-SEC honor. Fischer is the sole All-Midwest Region returnee for the Tigers, after she placed sixth last year to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships.
Also taking to the line is the SEC Freshman of the Year, Karissa Schweizer, who placed second for the Tigers at the SEC Championships, crossing in 17th overall.
Fischer and Schweizer will be joined by seniors Courtney Brown and Courtney Wood, junior Maria Effinger, and sophomores Nicole Mello and Kayla Wolf.
THE TIGER MEN
The men also return seven from their SEC squad, including junior Tyler Schneider who led the way with a fifth-place finish, the highest yet for a Tiger individual. Second across the line for the black and gold was sophomore Dan Roe, whose 14th-place crossing was good for a Second Team All-SEC honor. The men joined the women in the fourth-place team position, a mere ten points out of a top-three finish.
Joining Schneider and Roe on the line will be senior Sam Dickerson, junior Kenny Cushing, and sophomores T.J. Carey, Jordan Cook, and Drew White.
QUALIFYING FOR NCAA's
The Regional meet serves as the qualifying round for the NCAA Championships, set for November 22 in Terre Haute, Ind. The top two teams from each race, and the top four individual finishers not on a qualifying team, will earn automatic bids into the Championship. There is also the chance to qualify as an at-large team or individual, based on performances throughout the season. For more information on the qualifying process, visit USTFCCCA.com.
For the latest on your Tigers, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackFieldl.