Nebraska cross country closed its season at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday morning in Stillwater, Okla. The Husker women posted their best finish since the 2011 season, placing seventh with 267 points. The men took 25th with 648 points.
Oklahoma State and Iowa State took the top two spots in the team race on both the women’s and men’s side, earning automatic bids to the NCAA Championships. For the men, Oklahoma State represented four of the top five runners and closed with 19 points. The Cowgirls put three runners in the top five and won the team race with 30 total points.
Ali Bainbridge and Brynna McQuillen led the Huskers, with back-to-back finishes in the 6K. Bainbridge, a freshman from Sioux Falls, S.D., raced to 33rd with a 21:29.2 and McQuillen (Casa Grande, Ariz.) ran a 21:29.3, finishing 34th. Hannah Godwin was NU’s next finisher, placing 55th with a 21:46.6. Taya Skelton (21:57.6) and Cami Merickel (22:12.3) took 66th and 79th, rounding out Nebraska’s first five finishers.
Cal Puskar crossed the line first for the Husker men, placing 102nd with a 32:40.4. Trevor Acton (32:49.5) and Colby Erdkamp (33:08.3) placed 113th and 135th. Sam Kirchner ran a 33:34.0 to finish 153rd and Jerry Jorgenson took 156th with a time of 33:37.2.
Women’s Lineup (6K)
33. Ali Bainbridge - 21:29.2
34. Brynna McQuillen - 21:29.3
55. Hannah Godwin - 21:46.6
66. Taya Skelton - 21:57.6
79. Cami Merickel - 22:12.3
88. Berlyn Schutz - 22:17.5
127. Emma Ralston - 22:47.8
Men’s Lineup (10K)
102. Cal Puskar - 32:40.4
113. Trevor Acton - 32:49.5
135. Colby Erdkamp - 33:08.3
153. Sam Kirchner - 33:34.0
156. Jerry Jorgenson - 33:37.2
175. Eric Carothers - 34:17.9