INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's and women's cross country teams will compete next Saturday (Nov. 17) at the 2012 NCAA Division III Championships, NCAA officials announced today.
While the UW-Eau Claire women automatically qualified for nationals after winning the NCAA Midwest Regional title Saturday, the men earned an at-large bid today after taking fifth at regionals yesterday.
This is the first time since 2009 the Blugold men will make an appearance as a team at nationals. An individual competed in both 2008 and 2010 but since 1993, the Blugold men have only competed as a team at nationals three times. This year will be the fourth.
For the women, the team will make its eighth straight appearance at nationals. Last year they finished 17th while taking fourth in 2010 and winning the national title in 2009.
Thirty-two teams were selected to participate in each championship. The top two, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the eight regions, for a total of 16 teams. Sixteen additional teams were selected at-large.
Fifty-six individuals, the first seven athletes from each region who are not a part of a qualifying team, were selected to participate in each championship.
The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will host the championships at the LaVern Gibson Course in Terre Haute, Ind. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m. ET followed by the women's race at noon ET.
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