Cross Country Looks to Show its Cougar Pride at Regionals

PROVO -- - - After placing first and second in the MWC Championships two weeks ago, the women's and men's cross country teams head to Ogden for the NCAA Mountain Regionals Saturday. The men's 10K race will begin the meet at 11 a.m. with the women's following at 12:15 p.m.

The women's team is lead by senior All-American Michaela Mannova who placed first in the MWC Championships to be awarded the Women's Athlete of the Year. The men are led by junior Kip Kangogo who is running undefeated this season.

Both teams are coming to the meet ready to qualify for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 24.

"Last year this meet came down to a photo finish between Mannova and the top runner from NAU," women's head coach Patrick Shane said. "I expect the competition to be just as extreme and tough. We are all going to have to run well to perform as we did last year."

The women's team won the regional meet last year and the men placed third. The women then went on to win the National Championship and the men finished 16th.

The regional meet determines which teams will compete at the NCAA National meet. The top two teams and four individuals from each region will automatically earn a spot at nationals. The other teams will hope to get an at-large bid according to NCAA criteria.

The meet will feature top competition for the women with No. 6 Colorado and No. 10 Northern Arizona University. The men will face off once again with the No. 8 MWC Champions Air Force, No. 3 Colorado and No. 5 NAU.

"Not only will we have top competition from the different teams," men's head coach Ed Eyestone said, "we will have tough competition from many individual runners who are some of the top in the nation. We hope to run strong and show the Mountain Region what BYU is all about."

The meet will be hosted by Weber State University at Schneiter's Riverside Golf Course. All media wishing to attend should contact AmyAnn Rupp at BYU Media Relations for credentials and meet information.