Ferris State Cross Country Teams To Compete In NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Saturday
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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the 2014 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships being held this Saturday (Nov. 22) at the Angel Mounds in Evansville, Ind.
More than 30 teams and nearly 450 student athletes will converge on Angel Mounds Saturday when the University of Southern Indiana along with the Evansville Sports Corporation host the 2014 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships.
The men's 10-kilometer race begins at 10:30 a.m., while the women's 6k is slated for an 11:45 a.m. start. Admission for the event is $7 for adults and $5 for students (cash only), while children ages 12-and-under are admitted free of charge.
This year's regional—which consists of teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Great Midwest Athletic Conference—features 15 men's and women's teams that are either ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association Top 25 or receiving votes.
Five men's squads are ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 25—tied for the most of any region—with defending Midwest Region champion Grand Valley State University leading the charge at No. 2. USI is ranked No. 5, while Malone University (No. 12), the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (No. 19), and Ashland University (No. 20) are all ranked. Hillsdale College and Lewis University are receiving votes in the latest poll.
Seven women's squads, including No. 1 Grand Valley State, are ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 25—the most of any region. Hillsdale (No. 7) and Wayne State University (No. 8) are ahead of USI, which moved up three spots to No. 12 following their Great Lakes Valley Conference championship run. Northern Michigan University (No. 14), Saginaw Valley State University (No. 19), and Lewis (No. 24) are ranked in the top 25, while Malone is receiving votes.
The top four teams in each race will advance to the NCAA II National Championships, which are December 6 in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the qualifying teams, the top three individuals that are not on a qualifying team will advance to the national meet. Qualifying individuals also include any competitors in the top five that are not on a qualifying team.
Last year, the Bulldog men's team qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year on the heels of its 2012 appearance, which was the program's first since 1985. FSU went on to place 10th at the NCAA Division II National Championships after advancing out of the regional.
Meanwhile, the women's team has qualified for the NCAA-II Nationals five times in the last six years following strong performances at the Midwest Regional.
The Ferris State men's and women's cross country teams are guided this fall by former Bulldog standout and local native Jared Kelsh, who is serving as the interim head coach.