Montana State University
NCAA MOUNTAIN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
NCAA Regional Meet Puts Season on the Line for Bobcats
11/13/2013 3:22:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country
Cross Country ready for one final team competition at Mountain Regionals
The Bobcats will travel to Ogden, Utah, for the last scheduled meet of the year. The Men's 10K will take place first, beginning at noon (MST), followed by the Women's 6K at 1:15 p.m.
The women put together a very impressive run at the Big Sky Meet and have proven to be one of the best teams in recent Bobcat history. Paced by Heather Demorest, who was the Big Sky runner-up, the women's team enters the meet ranked ninth in the region. MSU saw huge performances from Rachel Atwood and Christie Schiel who both finished in the top-20 helping secure the team's highest finish since 2004.
Weber State (fourth) and Northern Arizona (fifth) are the only Big Sky teams ranked ahead of the Bobcats in the most recent regional rankings.
Last year, the women came in 15th overall, with Demorest leading the way with a 37th place finish.
"This is the end of the championship season for us, unless we have someone individually qualify out" said head coach Dale Kennedy. "Going in, this is the highest rank we've had in several years and there's a huge opportunity for them to finish higher than that.
The men are also coming off a third place finish at the Big Sky Meet and are certain there's more to leave out on the course. Trevor Polson was the highest men's finisher, earning his first all-conference nod after crossing the finish line in ninth place. MSU had four runners in the top-20, as Polson was supplemented by Seth Garbett (16th), Cristian Soratos (18th) and Jacob Kirk (19th). The quintet of seniors will look to advance at their final regional meet.
Headed into the meet, there are four other Big Sky schools with a Mountain region rank on top of MSU's eighth place slot. Northern Arizona is second in both the regional and national polls, followed by Southern Utah (fifth), Weber State (13th) and Montana (15th)
"We really want to get into the top-30 in the national poll," Kennedy said. "There's a good chance we can beat some of these teams ranked ahead of the men right now, and even send a few student-athletes to the National Championship."
The top two teams from each region will automatically advance to the NCAA Championship, taking place in Terra Haute, Ind. on Nov. 23, as well as 13 at-large teams bids from all regions on the line. The top-four individuals (not from the winning team) will also move on to the championship meet.
