KU Runners Travel to Midwest Regionals Saturday

Nov. 12, 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A total of 27 men’s teams and 29 women’s teams will travel to Peoria, Ill., to join the Jayhawks this weekend at the NCAA Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships. The event will take place at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria and will be hosted by Bradley University.

The Midwest Regional is one of nine regionals being held with the top two teams and four individual finishers from each regional advancing to the NCAA Championship, hosted by Indiana State University on Nov. 22.

This year’s Midwest Regional will showcase some of the nation’s top runners including three nationally ranked teams in both the men’s and women’s races. Iowa (17th), Minnesota (22nd) and Oklahoma State (25) are the ranked squads that will be competing on the men’s side. On the women’s side, Missouri (9th), Illinois (16th) and Oklahoma (26th) will represent their respected schools.

Kansas sophomore Benson Chesang will try to build on his elite status after capturing the Big 12 Championship on October 30. He won the 8k race with a time of 24:07.03. At the regional, a team is allowed seven competitors on each side.

The NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee will select 13 at-large teams and two at-large individuals from the nine regional championships. A total of 31 teams and 38 individuals will be competing for the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships. Selections will be announced on Monday, Nov. 15.