Junior places fourth at Midwest Regional
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Jessica Eldridge earned her third automatic berth to the NCAA National Cross Country Championships with her fourth-place finish at the Midwest Regional Saturday.
Eldridge paced the 6,000-meter Les Bolstad Golf Course layout in 20 minutes, 50 seconds to finish as the top individual from a non-qualifying team, thus sending her to the NCAA Championships for the third time in as many attempts. Eldridge has never missed a national championship in either cross country, indoor or outdoor track in her career except for the seasons she redshirted (2005 cross country and 2006 indoor track). Her fourth-place finish equal her meet best, a feat accomplished in 2004.
The Broken Arrow native's time was over one minute better than her 19th-place finish (21:54) on the same course at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 23.
Illinois beat home team Minnesota by just five points to take the women\'s regional title. Both teams earned automatic bids to the national championships. Iowa completed the Big 10 Conference trifecta, finishing third, followed by three Big 12 schools -- Nebraska , Oklahoma State and Missouri .
Oklahoma State won the men\'s title, earning automatic bids with second-place Kansas .
Iowa runner won both individual titles. Diane Nukuri won the women\'s race in 20:35 and Micah Vandenend won the men\'s 10,000-meter race in 30:41.
OU freshman Ashley Storm was the second Sooner to cross the finish line, taking 62nd in 22:41. Aja Clark finished 76th (22:56) and Kristi Cook was 98th (23:23) in the field of 171.
Jason Coleman led the men\'s team to a ninth overall with his 29th-place run of 31:53. He was followed by Rob Sorrell (34th, 31:59); Jon Grey (44th, 32:09); Jacob Boone (61st, 32:44); J.B. Lagos (87th, 33:45); and Dusty Langwell (118th, 34:22).
Eldridge will compete as an individual at the NCAA National Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute , Ind. , Monday, Nov. 20.