Kusche Advances to Nationals, Huskers Earn All-Region Honors

STILLWATER, Okla. - The Nebraska cross country team concluded its season on Friday at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. George Kusche punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships, while Erika Freyhof joined him with All-Region accolades. The Husker men finished eighth in the 10K with 218 points, while the Nebraska women placed 15th in the 6K with 373 points.

Kusche led the Nebraska men with a seventh-place finish in a time of 31:01.9. With his finish, he will qualify for the NCAA Championships. The top two teams overall qualify for the championships, with the first four individual runners not on a qualifying team to finish advancing to the NCAA Championships as well.

By finishing seventh and qualifying, Kusche will be the first Husker to represent Nebraska at the NCAA Championships on the men's side in back-to-back years since James Bowler in 2001 and 2002. He is also the second person to have back-to-back All-Region honors on the men's squad since David Adams in 2009 and 2010.

"George (Kusche) was up front at the beginning," said Harris. "He had a tough time over the last 3K but kept himself up to qualify. Expect him to run for an All-American spot next Saturday. He sets the tone up front in any race he runs. We count on him and he comes through. He is already looking forward to a better race when he lines up at the NCAA Championships."

Wyatt McGuire was the second Nebraska runner to finish in the men's race and placed 36th with a time of 31:47.5. Ryan Martins and Jordan De Spong were the next Huskers and took 41st (31:53.5) and 58th (32:12.3), respectively. Mark Freyhof rounded out the top-five and was 77th in a time of 32:32.7.

Erika Freyhof set the tone for the women and garnered All-Region honors for the second consecutive season, finishing 11th in a time of 20:58.1. It is her second season in a row with an 11th-place finish at regionals. Erika Freyhof also became the first Husker on the women's team to earn All-Region accolades in back-to-back years since Laura Crofford from 2007 to 2010.

"Erika (Freyhof) had her best race as a Husker," Harris said. "She now waits to see if she possibly gets an at-large spot for the NCAA Championships like her brother (Mark) last year. She put herself up in the race early, competing in the top 10 right until the end."

Elsa Forsberg and Judi Jones continued their consistent seasons and have both been in the top-three for Nebraska all year. Forsberg was 35th in a time of 21:38.5, while Jones placed 55th with a time of 22:00.6. Gabrielle Boucher was the fourth Husker to finish and took 119th (22:52.4), followed Grace Pagone in 160th (23:28.6).

"Team-wise we were not happy," Harris said. "We got out in both the men's and women's races early but did not finish well over the last half. It was exciting to see both teams go up for a top spot."

Kusche will conclude his season at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on Saturday, November 23.