Husker Runners Head to Regional

Lincoln, Neb. - The Nebraska men’s and women’s cross country teams head to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday for the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. The men’s 10,000-meter race begins at 11 a.m., followed by the women’s 6,000-meter race at Noon.

The top two teams in each race automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 24. Thirteen at-large berths will also be available for teams that do not finish in the top two.

The women’s race consists of 30 teams, including one team ranked in the Nov. 4 FinishLynx Women’s Cross Country poll, No. 20 Missouri. Nebraska, which had been ranked as high as No. 20, fell out of the most recent poll for the first time in six weeks.

NU is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships. Head Coach Jay Dirksen hopes his team can benefit from the tough competition it has faced this season.

"Our schedule will definitely help us," Dirksen said. "Our goal is to finish in the top two and we’re certainly capable of being there if we run like we’re capable of running."

In the men’s race, 28 teams will compete, including two teams ranked in the Nov. 5 MONDO Men’s Cross Country poll, No. 23 Oklahoma State and No. 30 Iowa.

Despite a 12th-place finish at the conference meet, Dirksen is pleased with the effort that the men’s team is displaying.

"I’ve been real pleased with the effort the team has shown in practice," Dirksen said. "We’ll try to end the season on a positive note."

If either team advances to the NCAA Championship that meet will be held on Monday, Nov. 24, in Waterloo, Iowa.