Eldridge Finishes 180th at NCAA Cross Country Championship

WATERLOO, Iowa -- OU freshman Jessica Eldridge ran a 21:51.3 to finish 180th in the NCAA Cross Country Championships Monday afternoon at Irv Warren Golf Course. Eldridge was the first Sooner woman to qualify for the NCAA meet since 1996 and the first true freshman to qualify for OU since 1994.

“We are excited that Jessica qualified as a true freshman and that she got the experience of competing in an NCAA championship,” Sooner cross country coach Rodney Rothoff. “She learned a lot today about running in a large field in challenging weather conditions. We will take this experience and get ready for the indoor and outdoor seasons as well as the future cross country seasons.

“It was important for her to get this experience because you only learn as you do. When we hit the indoor season, she's already going to know what it is like to compete at nationals.

“She did a good job today and I am so proud of her for qualifying as a true freshman,” Rothoff added.

The temperature at race time was 21 degrees with a 20-25 mile per hour wind, dropping the wind chill to minus 2 degrees during the race.

For Eldridge, the weather was a small challenge compared to the size of the field.

“This was the biggest field I have ever run in (252 runners finished the women's race) and I learned a lot today about getting out in front, not getting caught in the pack and running with all kinds of runners,” she continued. “It was cold but I tried to not think about that part of the race. It was a great experience and I actually am quite pleased with how the season ended. When we started training in August, I never thought I would be competing in Iowa at the NCAA as a freshman in November.”

Eldridge's time in the 6k race was her third best mark this season at that distance. She ran a career best 21:37 at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 15 to finish third. She was the top placing individual who was not on a team that qualified for the NCAA meet (only the top two teams at regionals are guaranteed a spot in the NCAA field).

Stanford swept the team titles today with the Cardinal men winning the title by 150 points and the Stanford women edging BYU by eight points. Shalane Flanagan of North Carolina won the women's individual crown with a 19:30.4 and Dathan Ritzenhein of Colorado won the men's 10k title with a 29:14.1.

The Sooners open the indoor track and field season on Jan. 16-17. The OU pole vaulters will compete in the USATF Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., Jan. 16-17 and the remainder of the teams will be in Norman to host the OU Classic at the Mosier Indoor Facility, Saturday, Jan. 17.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Eldridge Finishes 180th at NCAA Cross Country Championship

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