Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats To Run at Midwest Regionals
11/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Nov. 12, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's cross country coach Amy Tush admits that there is a difference between the Big Ten Championships and Saturday's Midwest Regional Championships meet in Peoria. However, she will not acknowledge arguably the largest difference.
Saturday's meet goes a lot further toward every team's ultimate goal -- the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The top two teams automatically qualify for the Nov. 22 race in Terre Haute, Ind., and at-large bids will also be given out based on this meet.
Click here for Midwest Regional information!
Start time for Saturday's women's race is 11 a.m. at the Newman Golf Course.
"Right now we are ranked 13th in our region, so our immediate goal is to crack the Top 10 Saturday," said Tush. "In looking at the course, this will be a much different race than what we had in Iowa City at Big Tens a few weeks ago -- there is a different variety of teams. The only Big Ten teams we will see are Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota."
For Tush, the focus will be on some other programs outside of the conference.
"There are a few Big 12 schools that we would like to run well against," she said. "I think we can compete with some of them. And Loyola is a local rival, so this will be our final chance to compete with them."
NU again figures to be led by freshman Marie Grabinski and senior Diana Hossfeld, but they offer contrasting experiences heading into Saturday's race. Grabinski will be making her first appearance in this meet, while Hossfeld -- who narrowly missed an NCAA individual bid at this race a year ago -- is gunning for her fourth straight All-District performance. She would be the second Wildcat runner to be so honored (the first is current assistant coach Rachel Evjen, from 1999-2002).
"I feel like we haven't a great race from Marie yet this year," said Tush. "She has ran certain portions of each race well, but has not put together a total 6K. If she can put together a solid race, she has a solid shot at All-District and even an NCAA individual bid. That should be her goal.
"As for Diana, she knows how close she came to an NCAA bid last year, and I think that has made her hungry heading into this meet," Tush continued. "She knows this year where she needs to be, so she has to compete for herself and get to that spot."
NU Runners
Alison Coren, Fr.
Kyna Forkins, Sr.
Marie Grabinski, Fr.
Diana Hossfeld, Sr.
Lesley Meade, Sr.
Mallory O'Niel, So.
Caroline Speirs, Sr.
