KU Cross Country Travels To Midwest Regionals

Nov. 10, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

In their first action since the Big 12 Championship on Oct. 28, the University of Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for the Midwest Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 12. The men’s team, currently ranked No. 12 in the nation, finished fourth at this meet a year ago, while the women finished 16th. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The University of Iowa will host the meet at the Ashton Cross Country Course. The men’s 10k race will begin at 11 a.m. followed by the women’s 6k run at 12:15 p.m.

The men are led by two-time defending Big 12 champion Benson Chesang. The junior finished in sixth place overall at this meet a year ago in a time of 30:30.74. The women are led by sophomore Lisa Morrisey, who was the top finisher for the Jayhawks at the Big 12 Championship. She finished 72nd at this race a year ago in a time of 22:25.94.

The Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships provides for a maximum of 31 seven-person teams and 38 individuals per championship race. Eighteen teams automatically qualify to the championships races by finishing in the top two at one of nine regional races. The remaining 13 at-large teams are selected by the NCAA Division I track and field subcommittee on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Both Kansas teams will be looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1994, when the women finished 16th and the men finished 18th.

The NCAA Championships, hosted by Indiana State, are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21, in Terre Haute, Ind.