Men's Team, Engel Earn NCAA Bids

Nov. 12, 2011

DeKalb, Ill. - The fifth-ranked University of Oklahoma men's cross country team finished second at the NCAA Midwest Regional Saturday in DeKalb, Ill. The finish earns the team an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 21.

Oklahoma finished just three points behind in-state rival and top-ranked Oklahoma State. The Sooners finished with 45 points as Oklahoma State had 42 points. Tulsa, Minnesota and Illinois finished third, fourth and fifth to round out the top five.

Men's results | Women's results

Kevin Schwab placed second overall for a second consecutive year, to lead the Sooners to a third-straight NCAA Championship berth. Schwab crossed the finish line with a time of 31 minutes, 22.10 seconds, finishing just behind Hassan Mead of Minnesota (31:16.87).

Bill Kogel was the next best finisher for Oklahoma, finishing ninth with a time of 31:27.91. Jeremy Sudbury came in at 10^th clocking a time of 31:33.34, followed by George Alex who placed 11^th with a time of 31:33.86 and Kevin Williams finished 13^th with a time of 31:37.09.

With Eric Harasyn finishing 14th with a time of 31:37.24 and Aaron Sherf placing 21^st clocking a time of 31:44.56, all seven of Oklahoma's runners placed inside the top 25, earning All-Regional honors. The honor was the fourth for Schwab, third for Kogel and the second for Williams and Alex.

The Sooner women finished 10th with 297 points, two spots higher than their current regional ranking.

Jessica Engel led the Oklahoma women with a time of 21:04.33 placing fifth and earning an individual spot in the women's NCAA Championship.

Natalie Crain was the next best finisher for the women, finishing 36^th with a time of 22:09.44. Hilary Krein placed 57^th clocking a time of 22:30.20, Molly Ferguson finished 91^st with a time of 22:57.15 and Kelsey Brown rounded out the Sooners finishing 110^th with a time of 23:13.04.

Engel and the men's team next race at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Terra Haute, Ind. The OU men's team finished a program-best fifth at the event last year.

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