University of Massachusets Athletics
NCAA Regional Qualifier On Horizon For WXC
November 12, 2009 | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 12, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's cross country team will head to Boston, Mass. this Saturday to compete in the NCAA Regional Qualifier. The Minutewomen are coming off of a third place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championships, and are looking to build upon their recent success. Last year the squad took 22nd place at the NCAA Qualifier and improving upon this finish seems like a very distinct possibility.
UMass hopes to finish at the top as the first two teams from each district will advance to the NCAA Championships. Along with these two automatic qualifiers, a selection committee will choose to advance 13 at large teams. Additionally, the first four individuals from each region (who are not members of the qualifying teams) will qualify for the NCAA meet, if they finish among the top 25 this weekend at the regionals.
For three straight meets, UMass has been led by freshman catalyst Courtney Baldwin. Baldwin was a key component in the squad's 14th place finish at the New England Championships, fourth place finish at the Albany Invitational, and third place finish at the A 10 Championships. For her performance at the A-10s, she received A 10 Rookie of the Year honors along with being named one of the UMass Tri-Athletes of the Week. By crossing at 20:09, Baldwin placed ninth overall and was named all-conference. If Baldwin keeps her current pace, the Minutewomen will have an excellent shot to succeed at Saturday's meet.
Redshirt junior Shiyi Zan has also been running very well as of late, and will look to improve upon her 18th place finish from last year's NCAA Regional Qualifier. At the A-10 Championships two weeks ago, the co-captain finished the 5k in 20:36 while taking 17th place out of 140 runners. Zan has had a very solid second half to the cross country season, and will look to finish strong during this stretch run.
Sophomores Karen Roa and Claire Pettit also placed at last year's qualifier, with respective 94th and 118th place finishes. The two have been very consistent this season, and have an excellent chance to continue this trend on Saturday.
The women's race will take place Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in Boston, Mass.