NCAA South Regional Championship up next for MT

Friday, November 13

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

10 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

NCAA Regional

11/12/2015 3:36:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After placing second at the Conference USA Championships in Bowling Green, Ky., nearly two weeks ago, the Blue Raiders are slated to compete in the NCAA South Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at Harry Pritchett Running Park.

Event: NCAA South Regional
Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Host: Alabama
Site: Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Harry Pritchett Running Park)
Start Times: 9 a.m. Women's 6K | 10 a.m. Men's 10K
Results: Xpresstiming.com

Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders last competed at the Conference USA Championships in Bowling Green, Ky., Oct. 31 with both teams placing second in their respective races. UTEP captured the men's title, while Rice earned the women's championship.

The Middle Tennessee men were led by Hillary Rono, who finished fifth and claimed First Team All-Conference USA honors. Geoffry Cheruiyot (10th), Eliud Rutto (11th) and Amos Cheruiyot (14th) all earned as Second Team All-Conference accolades.

On the women' side, Gladys David and Josphine Kiptebeny finished third and sixth, respectively. The duo earned first team honors. Hannah Maina finished eighth and earned second team accolades.

Competition
Men: Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Mercer, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt.

Women: Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Mercer, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin, UAB, UCF and Vanderbilt.

USTFCCCA Rankings
The Middle Tennessee men's squad maintained their fifth-place ranking in the pre-regional USTFCCCA South Region Rankings, placing behind Florida State (1), Ole Miss (2), Georgia (3) and Florida (4).

The women's squad, who were previously unranked, landed at 10th after their second-place performance at the Conference USA Championships. Mississippi State holds down the top spot, while Vanderbilt and Lipscomb are ranked second and third, respectively.

2014 NCAA South Regional
At the 2014 NCAA South Regional, the Blue Raider men finished fourth with 157 points. MT was bested by Ole Miss (1st/52 points), Florida State (2nd/94 points) and Auburn (3rd/106 points).

Rono led Middle Tennessee, placing 21st in 31:00 on the 10K course, while Amos Cheruiyot and Geoffry Cheruiyot finished 28th and 36th, respectively.

For the women's team, Hannah Maina finished eighth and captured a spot to the NCAA Championships.

As a team, the MT women finished ninth with 254 points.

Up Next
Following the NCAA South Region Championships is the NCAA Cross Country Championship Nov. 21 in Louisville, Ky., at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park. The women will compete in a 6k race at 11 a.m. and the men will compete in a 10-kilomenter race at noon.

Associate Head Coach Keith Vroman
Thoughts on the men's team
"Our men are excited from having placed second in the Conference USA Championships. We have been getting better every week this season."

"The South Region is wide open, the men have put in the work and will be looking to make some noise Friday."

Thoughts on the women's team
"The women have made big improvements this year and are not far from being a really good team in the South Region. Tomorrow will be a good test of their ability to compete at a high level."

"Both teams will look to improve on last years performance, men 4th and women 9th."