Peer Leads Huskers to Regionals

The Nebraska cross country team is set to compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Ill., on Friday afternoon. Hosted by Bradley the meet will begin with the men’s race starting at 11 a.m. (Central), with the women’s race following.

Nebraska Head Coach Dave Harris is excited to see what his group of NU runners will do against premiere talent at the NCAA Regionals. Harris said that he believes team leaders Anna Peer and Joseph Harter are really eager to go out and compete.

“Anna looks really good, we are preparing her to go for a top spot at the meet and really lay it on the line,” Harris said. “Joe is training really well, but so is the whole men’s team, so we need to get all of our guys in the front.”

Harris added that for the men’s team to have success at the meet like they did last year, when they placed ninth, NU really needs to run as a team.

“It is definitely going to be a team-effort if we are going to match last year’s performance, so that is our goal especially on the men’s, to finish in the top 10,” Harris said. “Our goal on the women’s side is to be ranked at the end of the meet, so finishing in the top-15.”

After a surprising performance at the Big Ten Championships, where she placed 14th, Peer will look to lead the women’s team and earn a spot at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 25, according to Harris.

“It is one of those things that I am really confident in her as a runner, but it depends on what everyone else does too,” Harris said. “It depends on what teams end up competing and what runners end up in front of her, she has had a lot of success this season but you never know at the Regionals.”

Harris added that he believes Peer has a great shot at cracking the top 20 at the competition.

“She just has to worry about her race, I want her to just go for it and run an individual race. It is something she has to do, I would think she can make it in the top 20, and there are a lot of good teams that will be competing, so we will see.”

Check Huskers.com for updates Friday afternoon as the Huskers try to punch their ticket to the NCAA Championships.