Sooners Racing for NCAA Invitations

NORMAN – Coming off school record-setting performances in the 2014 Big 12 Championships, The University of Oklahoma cross country teams travel to Peoria, Ill., for the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday. Hosted by Bradley University, this is the sixth time overall and fourth time in the last 11 years for Bradley to host the meet on Newman Golf Course. Weather may present a challenge for the runners as Peoria was hit by an early snowfall this week.

A total of 35 teams will be racing for spots in the upcoming NCAA Championships, scheduled Nov. 22, in Terra Haute, Ind. The top two teams in the women's 6K, set to go off at noon (CST), and the men's 10K, scheduled for 1 p.m. (CST), will be the automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championship. The top four individuals not on an automatic qualifying team also will earn automatic spots in the NCAA meet. Additionally, teams and individuals are chosen as at-large participants for the national meet.

Teams from 13 conferences make up the field including members from the Atlantic 10, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big 10, Conference USA, Horizon League, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Summit League, SEC and WAC.

The women's race will feature two nationally ranked teams in #5 Iowa State and #20 Minnesota in addition to a pair of teams currently receiving votes in the USTFCCCA national poll. Iowa State has won the last four Midwest Regional crowns on the women's side, including 2010 when Bradley last hosted the event.

The men's 10K race will feature three nationally ranked squads headlined by #4 Oklahoma State. Tulsa, which is ranked 23rd, and #26 Oklahoma joined the Cowboys in the latest national rankings, while Iowa State received votes. Three-time national champion Oklahoma State has won the last three Midwest Regionals, but the Sooners claimed the regional championship the last time it was held at Newman Golf Course in 2010.

Currently ranked third in the region and coming off a runner-up finish in the Big 12 two weeks ago, the best team finish since 2011, the Oklahoma men head into Friday's meet after last year's fourth-place finish that did not qualify the team for nationals.

“We want to get back into that national meet,” said associate head coach Jason Dunn. “That's where we have set our sights this season. Hopefully, we carry it through and run like we're prepared to do. I think we have a good chance at that.”

Leading the Sooners into the regional meet is senior Abbabiya Simbassa. His second-place individual finish at the Big 12 meet was the best OU men's individual finish since the start of Big 12 competition in 1996.

It will take a solid team effort to earn the automatic bid and there are others who are prepared to help that effort. They include Brandon Doughty, Eric Graf, Jacob Burcham, Alex Deir, Zac Randall, Will Hogston, Eric Alldritt and Kyle Polman. In addition to Simbassa, Doughty and Burcham earned All-Big 12 honors for their eight- and 13^th-place finishes, respectively.

“I know we are all really excited,” said Burcham. “It helps to come off a meet where we competed really well and I think if we can carry over our performance from Big 12s and race the same, we can get into the national race.”

“We want to get back into that national meet. That's where we have set our sights this season. Hopefully, we carry it through and run like we're prepared to do. I think we have a good chance at that.”
Coach Jason Dunn

The challenge that awaits the Sooner women is a bit bigger but they are coming off an all-time best in Big 12 finish of fifth from two weeks ago. OU enters the meet ranked seventh regionally.

Representing the women will be Brittany Tretbar, Elena Arriaza, Sophia Fernald, Lauren Gibbs, Kelsey McKee, Abbey Mace, Jordan Norris, Bryce Perry, Sarah Scott and Belle Wallace.

Tretbar and Arriaza led the Sooners at the Big 12 meet, earning All-Big 12 honors with their 10th- and 15^th-place finishes in Lawrence, Kan. With four sophomores and six freshmen, the Sooner women are certainly among the youngest teams competing.

Live results from the meet will be available through the NCAA. For more information on the meet, visit the Bradley Braves or the USTFCCCA websites. OU results and a full recap will be available on SoonerSports.com following the conclusion of the race.

Players Mentioned

Eric Alldritt

Elena Arriaza

Alex Deir

Brandon Doughty

Sophia Fernald

Lauren Gibbs

Eric Graf

Will Hogston

Will Hogston

Abbey Mace

Kelsey McKee

Jordan Norris

Bryce Perry

Bryce Perry

Zac Randall

Zac Randall

Sarah Scott

Abbabiya Simbassa

Brittany Tretbar

Belle Wallace

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