Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set To Run at NCAA Regional
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Nov. 15, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The next installment of the cross country championship season has arrived, as this weekend's NCAA regional championships take place throughout the country.
The Northwestern women head to Normal, Ill., and the Illinois State University campus for the Midwest Regional championship. The women's race will take place at 10:30 a.m. On the line: a possible bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, which will take place in Terre Haute, Ind., on November 25.
The top two teams from each region automatically qualify for the NCAA's, and head coach Amy Tush says the goal for the Wildcats this weekend is to earn one of the Midwest's two automatic bids.
"When I look at our region, I think Missouri is definitely the team to beat," she said. "But after that, it's wide open among a bunch of teams, and we're definitely in that mix. I'd like to see us finish second, and not have to sweat out trying to earn an at-large bid to NCAA's."
It has been nearly two weeks since the Big Ten Championships, where the Wildcats finished seventh. Many of NU's conference foes are in other regions, however.
"Our main focus in practice has been to build our confidence back up," said Tush. "When I looked over the times afterward, we actually didn't run that bad at Big Tens. Since then we've had some great workouts, and I think we've gotten that confidence back. We're looking forward to this race."
A senior-laden lineup faces the potential of running its last race together. This much-ballyhooed group figured to gain NU's first NCAA bid since the program was brought back as a varsity in 1998. Northwestern's only NCAA berth came in 1985.
Several individuals give NU a good chance. Rachel Evjen (Eau Claire, Wis./North) has earned All-District at this meet twice before, and ran at NCAA's as an individual in 2000. Laura Evans (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) was All-District in 2000 before missing last year to injury, and sophomore Diana Hossfeld (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona Del Mar) was All-District last year. Tush feels like those three, and several others, can earn All-District and push NU into the national meet.
"Senior Nicole Kuznia (Olivia, Minn./BOLD) won the Illinois State Invitational on this course earlier this year, so she feels comfortable here," said Tush. "Another senior, Karen Rogers (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood), ran great at Big Tens and has really come on -- I think she's realizing her days are numbered as a college runner. I think Emily Blakeslee (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) also has the potential to be All-District. I honestly think we have the potential for five or even six women to finish in the Top 25 and earn All-District.
"This race does not fall on one person's shoulders," said Tush. "We all have to help each other out and push each other. If we do that, we should do well."
