Lincoln ? With the release of the field for the NCAA Championships on Sunday night by the NCAA, Husker junior Lara Crofford found out she will be making a trip to the meet for the third straight year. Following an 11th-place showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday in Springfield, Mo., Crofford was selected for one of the at-large bids to the national meet.
A native of Newville, Pa., Crofford first ran at the NCAA Championships as a true freshman in 2007, where she finished 85th after also earning an at-large bid. Last season, she led the Husker women to their first trip to nationals since 2003, where she improved to 45th in the individual standing, while the team placed 25th.
Crofford’s selection continues the long success of Head Coach Jay Dirksen at the national meet, as the Husker leader will coach a runner at the meet for the 25th time in his 27 seasons at NU.
The NCAA Championships will once again be hosted by Indiana State University on Monday, Nov. 23 at Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The men’s race will be first at Noon, with the women to follow at 1 p.m. (Eastern). Both races will be broadcast live on Versus and streamed online at NCAA.com.