Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
NCAA Cross Country Regional
Raiders Ready to Race at NCAA Regionals
11/9/2017 10:00:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Following their first C-USA Cross Country championship, the Middle Tennessee men's cross country team looks for a return trip to the NCAA Championships this weekend. The No. 21 men's squad competes for a berth at the NCAA Regionals in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Friday, Nov. 10. The MT women will also race at the meet.
The Blue Raider men will compete against nationally ranked regional opponents No. 28 Alabama and No. 29 Ole Miss. Florida State and Georgia Tech round out the South Region top five.
According to FloTrack, Jacob Choge enters as the No. 3 runner in the country after winning his second C-USA Individual Title at the Championships two weekends ago. He also placed first earlier this season at the Alabama Invitational, clipping the Crimson Tides top runners who are ranked No. 4, 6, and 13 in the nation respectively.
As a team, the Blue Raider men have already proved successful against Ole Miss and Alabama. MT bested the Rebels in the season opening Brooks Twilight Classic, 25 points to Ole Miss's 47. Then at the Alabama Invitational the Blue Raiders narrowly defeated the host Tide 3-2 on a tiebreaker.
Middle returns all five runners from last year's NCAA Championship competing squad and second place regional team. Choge, Kigen Chemadi, Sampson Laari, Amos Cheruiyot and Geoffry Cheruiyot's experience last season will bode well in the 2017 meet.
The Blue Raider women will compete against the likes of No. 14 Georgia and No. 22 Ole Miss after placing sixth at the C-USA Championships.
Rachel Kigen paced the Middle women, finishing in 14th after placing 43rd a season ago.
The Raiders will look to resume their continued improvement in the Regionals. Freshman Sharon Kibiwott and Gladys Kipchumba improved their personal bests by over a minute at the C-USA Championships and look to carry that momentum into the Regional meet.
The women's 6k race will begin at 9 a.m. The men's 10k race is set to begin at 10 a.m.
The top two teams for each gender, and the top four individuals not on those teams, automatically qualify for the Nov. 18 NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky.
Live Times: https://results.flotrack.org/XC-PTT.html?mid=1301
NCAA South Region Men's Field
Teams (25)
Alabama, Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, ETSU, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Jackson State, Lipscomb, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Florida, Ole Miss, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Tennessee, UT-Martin, Troy, Vanderbilt
Incomplete Teams (8 Team/16 Athletes)
Alabama State, Florida A&M, FGCU, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Memphis, Stetson, Tennessee Tech
NCAA South Region Women's Field
Teams (32)
Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, ETSU, FIU, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, Mercer, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Mississippi Valley, North Florida, Ole Miss, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, Tennessee, UT-Martin, UAB, UCF, Vanderbilt
Incomplete Teams (8 Teams/21 Athletes)
Austin Peay, FGCU, Jackson State, Kennesaw State, Memphis, Stetson, Tennessee Tech, Troy
Players Mentioned
