Eldridge Qualifies for Nationals

NORMAN, Okla. Jessica Eldridge qualified for the national championships for the second time in as many years with her fourth-place finish Saturday at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Ill.

The OU women's team finished eighth, replicating last year's finish, and the men placed 11th.

“Jessica ran a really good, smart race,” head coach Rodney Rothoff said. “I was impressed with her composure and her ability to handle some adversity she's been dealing with. She came through really big.”

Eldridge ran the 6K in 20 minutes, 37 seconds, breaking her own school record for the second time this season. The sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., finished just 15 seconds behind the winner.

Women's Standings | Men's Standings

Illinois' Cassie Hunt won the women's race in 21:20. The University of Missouri was the Midwest Region women's team champion.

“The team ran strong; they maintained last year's result,” Rothoff said. “We're a young team and we'll definitely be stronger in the future.”

Sophomores Catherine Odell (48th, 21:59), Nicola Maye (55th, 22:10), Aja Clark (68th, 22:20), senior Jackie Dubois (84th, 22:37) and junior Julie Swagerty (164th, 24:36) completed the women's team. The times by Odell, Clark and Dubois were personal records.

“Aja and Jackie had strong performances,” Rothoff said. “They were impressive.”

Sophomore Jason Coleman led the men's team with a 21st-place finish, earning All-Midwest Region honors. Coleman ran the 10K in 31:14.

“Jason ran a strong race,” Rothoff said. “He still has some maturing to do.”

Minnesota's Andrew Carlson won the men's race in 29:48, leading his team to the Midwest Region men's championship.

Tyler Schmiedeberg (48th, 31:54), Blake Culp (73rd, 32:27), Andrew Call (86th, 32:48), Salah Hussein (103rd, 33:10) and Jason Penland (106th, 33:17) followed Coleman.

“Almost the entire men's team comes back next year,” Rothoff said. “They work hard and will be much better next season.”

Eldridge is only the third woman in OU history to qualify for the cross country national championships twice. She joins Tove Lutdal (1984 and 1985) and four-time qualifier Kay Gooch (1990-1993), both All-Americans, in the elite group.

Eldridge finished 180th at last year's national championship.

The Broken Arrow, Okla., native will compete at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships Monday, Nov. 22, at the Wabash Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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