FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 11,2005
SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 7A
CROSS COUNTRY
Runners to chase tournament
BY ANTONIO MENDOZA
amendoza@kansan.com
KANSAN'S SPORTWRITER
The Kansas cross country teams won't just be running for the finish line this weekend, they'll also be pursuing a championship bid.
Kansas will run in the Midwest Regional at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.
"The guys' team has been performing well all year and we just have to continue to compete up to our potential, and I believe our chances are good, but everyone is saying that," Kansas cross country coach Stanley Redwine said.
The men are ranked No. 12 in the nation, and No. 1 in the Midwest Region, according to
the Men's Mondo Cross Countrv Poll.
"I would call it our championship series," Redwine said. "It's a championship event to determine who goes to the NCAA or not."
This race will be the first time the team will compete in an event since the Big 12 Conference Championship in Waco, Texas, where the men placed third. It was the highest finish ever for the men since the Big 12 began 10 years ago. The women placed 10th this year.
"We plan to go out there and get things done," said senior Joshy Madathil of the men's team. "We're there to win; we're there to get one of those top two spots and make an automatic bid."
We plan to go out there and get things done. We're there to win; we're there to get one of those top two spots and make an automatic bid."
“VAI
Joshy Madathil
Senior runner
Kansas can make an automatic bid to the National Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. today by finishing in one of the top two spots this weekend at the regional race.
If Kansas does not make one of the top two spots, a committee would decide its fate by looking at the teams it defeated that have qualified for nationals.
Aside from Kansas, there are three other nationally ranked universities that will compete in the Midwest Regional.
Minnesota is ranked second in the Midwest and 18th nationally. Iowa is third in the Midwest and 20th nationally and Oklahoma State is fourth in the Midwest and 26th nationally.
The men will compete in a 10K race, which will be the longest of the season.
The women will compete in a 6K race.
Edited by Patrick Ross
Junior Benson Chesang races in the Big 12 Championships on Oct. 28 in Waco, Texas, in which Kansas placed third. Chesang won the individual title for the second-straight year.
Contributed photo