Women's Cross Country Team In The Running To Qualify Nationally At Regional Race On Saturday

MEDFORD - The Tufts Women's Cross Country team will be looking for a strong showing at the NCAA Regional Championship on Saturday at Bowdoin College. Coach Kristen Morwick's squad seeks to be the first Tufts team to qualify for the NCAA Championship race since 2006. Start time is 11 am.

The top two teams at this weekend's regional event will automatically qualify for the national championship meet at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisconsin next Saturday (Nov. 19). The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is serving as the host institution for this year's championship.

After determining the 16 automatic qualifying teams from the eight regional sites, 16 other squads will be selected at large by the championships committee to participate in the NCAA Championship. Only the top five teams in each region will be considered. Regional performance/place is the primary piece of criteria.

In addition to the 32 teams that will make up the men's and women's championship fields, 56 individuals will be invited to compete at the event. The top seven harriers from teams that have not qualified for the championship will be selected. A total of 280 runners will compete on Nov. 19.

Finishing in eighth out of 51 teams at the 2010 Regionals, the Jumbos look to improve upon that result in order to earn an NCAA Championship bid this fall. Losing their top runner from 2010 - national qualifier Amy Wilfert - the Jumbos have been a better overall team this season with depth. They improved upon their finish at the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championshp from last year, and look to do the same this weekend.

Well rested from tapering, the varsity seven will travel to Brunswick with a firm knowledge of the Regionals course. The Jumbos won the Maine Invitational at the same course on September 17. Senior tri-captain Anya Price (Natick, MA), junior tri-captain Lilly Fisher (Kansas City, MO), sophomore Lauren Creath (Corte Madera, CA) and sophomore Abby Barker (San Carlos, CA) were the top four finishers for the Jumbos at both the season-opening Maine Invitational and at the NESCSAC race.

Ranked at 23rd in the country by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Jumbos feature a line-up in which each participant will be trying to make their first apperance at Nationals, hopefully as a team.

NCAA Cross Country Regional Website

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