The Pittsburg State University men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Abilene, Texas, to compete in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Meet today.
The women's six-kilometer race gets under way at 9:30 a.m. at Sherrod Residential Park, while the men's 10-kilometer action will follow at 10:30 a.m.
In the men's action, the top three teams as well as the top two individuals on non-qualifying teams earn berths to the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships. For the women's squads, the top two teams as well as the top two individuals on non-qualifying teams earn berths to the national meet.
The Pitt State men finished as the runner-up at the 2009 MIAA Championships on Oct. 24, narrowly falling to Missouri Southern in the competition. The Gorillas will seek to earn their third straight trip to the national championships.
Pitt State head coach Russ Jewett expects the Gorillas and Lions, MIAA third-place finisher Southwest Baptist as well as the regional host Abilene Christian and Tarleton State from the Lone Star Conference to fight for the national berths.
"MSSU has six very good runners, so that’s an advantage, because not they are not hurt as bad if one runs poorly. Abilene has two of the top three individuals, but they are not real deep this year," Jewett said.
"For us to earn a berth, we need to compete very well at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions – that's where most of the density -- runners per second -- will be and most of the opportunity for our team to succeed or not. We are pretty healthy right now and our guys have a little experience at being successful at regionals, having qualified to the national championships the past two years."
The Pitt State women placed third at the MIAA Championships, behind MSSU and Truman. Jewett expects those three squads, as well as Dallas Baptist from the Heartland Conference, to fight for the two national berths.
"While Truman beat us at conference and DBU beat us at the Southern Stampede mid-season, I have confidence that our women will compete very well Saturday," Jewett said. "We have a strong pack in our No. 3 through No. 6 runners. To be successful, one of those women must lead the pack into the top 20 individuals, and of course we need for Jennifer Butler and Melissa Peden to race as well or better than they did at the MIAA Championships."
The top 15 runners in each meet earn All-Region honors.
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The Pittsburg State University men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Abilene, Texas, to compete in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Meet today.
The women's six-kilometer race gets under way at 9:30 a.m. at Sherrod Residential Park, while the men's 10-kilometer action will follow at 10:30 a.m.
In the men's action, the top three teams as well as the top two individuals on non-qualifying teams earn berths to the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships. For the women's squads, the top two teams as well as the top two individuals on non-qualifying teams earn berths to the national meet.
The Pitt State men finished as the runner-up at the 2009 MIAA Championships on Oct. 24, narrowly falling to Missouri Southern in the competition. The Gorillas will seek to earn their third straight trip to the national championships.
Pitt State head coach Russ Jewett expects the Gorillas and Lions, MIAA third-place finisher Southwest Baptist as well as the regional host Abilene Christian and Tarleton State from the Lone Star Conference to fight for the national berths.
"MSSU has six very good runners, so that’s an advantage, because not they are not hurt as bad if one runs poorly. Abilene has two of the top three individuals, but they are not real deep this year," Jewett said.
"For us to earn a berth, we need to compete very well at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions – that's where most of the density -- runners per second -- will be and most of the opportunity for our team to succeed or not. We are pretty healthy right now and our guys have a little experience at being successful at regionals, having qualified to the national championships the past two years."
The Pitt State women placed third at the MIAA Championships, behind MSSU and Truman. Jewett expects those three squads, as well as Dallas Baptist from the Heartland Conference, to fight for the two national berths.
"While Truman beat us at conference and DBU beat us at the Southern Stampede mid-season, I have confidence that our women will compete very well Saturday," Jewett said. "We have a strong pack in our No. 3 through No. 6 runners. To be successful, one of those women must lead the pack into the top 20 individuals, and of course we need for Jennifer Butler and Melissa Peden to race as well or better than they did at the MIAA Championships."
The top 15 runners in each meet earn All-Region honors.
