Ross, Kopczynski Qualify For NCAA Championships
The cross country teams competed at the NCAA West Regional in Estacada, OR on Saturday and the top runner on both the men's and women's team qualified as individuals for the NCAA Division III Championships next Saturday in Northfield, MN. Evelyn Ross (JR, Iowa City, IA) finished 11th overall in the 114-runner women's field and was the sixth of the seven individual qualifiers. Brian Kopczynski (FR, Coto de Caza) was 15th in the 96-runner men's field and was the fifth qualifier. This will be the second appearance at the national cross country meet for Ross. The women's team qualified for the meet when she was a freshman. Kopczynski was the second freshman finisher in the men's race and both were the only first year runners to finish in the top 30.
Both teams' team placings matched their pre-race rankings. The fifth-ranked Stags scored 133 points and finished fifth overall while the seventh-ranked Athenas scored 197 points to finish seventh. The top two teams in each race qualified automatically for the NCAA Championships and the third, fourth and fifth place teams were considered for 16 at-large spots along with the 3-4-5 teams from the other seven regions in the country. Both third place teams from the West Region earned at-large bids.
Kopzynski led four other Stags who earned All-Region honors by placing in the top 35. Chris Gurney (JR, Ventura) finished 25th, Adam Coleman (SR, Clayton) was 27th, Matt Cummins (FR, Riverside) was 31st and Mike Van Antwerp (JR, Reno) was 35th. Also competing for the Stags were Brad Johnson (SR, Oakland) and Florian Scheulen (SO, Encinitas). Van Antwerp earned All-Region honors for the third time while Gurney and Coleman earned them for the second. Cummins was one of only three freshman to earn All-Region. Kopczynski and Cummins also set personal best times in the race.
Ross was the only All-Region runner for the Athenas. The CMS team also included Taylor Smiley (FY, Beaverton), Laurie Mittermiller (SO, La Jolla), Ariane Mohr-Felsen (JR, Laurel, MD), Ashley Scott (FR, Battle Creek, MI), Rachael Martin (JR, Pasadena) and Allysa Rueschenberg (SO, San Luis Obispo). Ross, Mohr-Felsen and Martin all set personal best times and Mittermiller ran her fastest time of the season.
The NCAA Championships will take place on Saturday, November 17 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. The women will race first at 11:00 with the men following at 12:00.
Complete Results:
