The University of Southern Indiana and the Evansville Sports Corporation host the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships Saturday at Angel Mounds. The women’s six-kilometer race begins at 10:30 a.m., while the men’s 10k is at 11:45 a.m.
This is the second consecutive year that USI and the Evansville Sports Corporation has teamed up to host the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships at Angel Mounds. The event also will be at Angel Mounds in 2016, while the NCAA II National Championships will be at Angel Mounds in 2017.
“Our goal in hosting NCAA Championships like the Midwest Regional is to provide a great experience to the student athletes and fans while showcasing what makes Southwest Indiana great,†Jason Sands, Executive Director of the Evansville Sports Corporation, said. “Angel Mounds’ unique history and the amazing course that has been developed out there has truly put Evansville on the map when it comes to hosting cross country championships.â€
The Midwest Region consists of teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Around 30 teams and more than 200 student athletes are expected to compete in each race.
A total of 12 teams enter Saturday’s races ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Top 25 polls; eight in the women’s race and four in the men’s race.
The Eagles are tied for No. 7 in the men’s poll and No. 11 in the women’s poll.
USI is one of four GLVC women’s teams to enter the Midwest Regional ranked in Top 25. Lewis University is No. 14, while the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Bellarmine University are No. 20 and No. 23, respectively.
The GLIAC also is represented by four teams in the women’s Top 25, including No. 1 Grand Valley State University and No. 3 Hillsdale College. Northern Michigan University is No. 8, while Malone University is in a tie for No. 25.
Grand Valley State also is No. 1 in the men’s Top 25, while Wisconsin-Parkside is No. 13 and Malone is No. 23.
Individually, USI senior Johnnie Guy (Palmyra, Indiana) is one of the favorites to win an individual national championship this year. Guy is racing for his second NCAA II Midwest Region title in the last three years after winning the GLVC championship for the third straight year.
Several women’s runners toeing the starting line Saturday also have aspirations of capturing the individual national championship. Hillsdale senior Emily Oren and Grand Valley State senior Kendra Foley are among the favorites.
Foley is the defending national champion on the cross country course, while Oren captured the NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field title in the 5,000 meters last spring. Oren also won the GLIAC cross country title two weeks ago.
Grand Valley State won both the men’s and women’s regional crowns a year ago. The Lakers have won the last 14 women’s regional championships and the previous 13 men’s regional titles.
