Regionals Test Takes Cross Country To Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of Washington cross country teams will compete at the NCAA West Regional Championships in Sacramento on Friday,vying for coveted automatic qualifying spots to the national championships. The meet, held at haggin Oaks Golf complex, will serve as a crucial test for both the Husky men and women as they aim to extend their seasons.
This year’s regional competition carries significant weight, with the top two teams from each race earning automatic bids to the NCAA National Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia, on November 23. Individual runners also have the opportunity to qualify for nationals by finishing in the top five regardless of team affiliation.
The Husky women, currently ranked No. 18 nationally, will field a team comprised of Mia Cochran, deveau, Foerster, Stiles, Jenica Swartz, Sam Tran, and Josephine Welin. The men’s squad, featuring Isaac briggs, Cruize Corvin, Thom Diamond, Jamar Distel, Parker Mong, Nathan Neil, Reuben Reina, and Josiah Tostenson, will designate one athlete as the alternate for race day.
Both teams face a challenging field. The women will compete against No. 4 Oregon, No. 14 Stanford, No. 24 Washington State,and No. 28 Gonzaga. On the men’s side, No. 7 Oregon, No. 11 Washington State, Cal Baptist (No. 17), and Boise State (No. 29) are also expected to contend.
The Huskies are looking to build on past success at the West regional. Last year, the men’s team secured the West Regional title for the second time in program history, while the women finished third. Though, both squads have limited returning experience from those meets. Onyl Jamar Distel and Nathan Neil return from the winning men’s team, while Stiles and Foerster are the only returning runners from the women’s third-place finish.
All-West Region honors will be awarded to the top-25 finishers in each race. The women’s race begins at 10:00 a.m. PT, followed by the men’s race at 11:15 a.m. PT.
