Nov. 12, 2011

NCAA Cross Country South Regional Results

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Ole Miss women had their best NCAA Regional performance in school history on Saturday at the NCAA South Regional, hosted by the University of Alabama at the Harry Pritchett Cross Country Course.

Led by Logan Waites and Katie Breathitt, the Rebel women finished fourth out of 27 teams in the 6K race, just behind top-five nationally ranked squads Florida State and Vanderbilt, as well as Florida. By finishing fourth, Ole Miss placed ahead of fellow SEC squads Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Auburn.

“We’re very proud of all of our runners,” said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. “We’ve had a good cross country season and capped it off with a great race today. Vanderbilt and Florida State are two of the best women’s teams in the country, and to finish fourth at this regional is very good.”

Waites finished 12th with a time of 20:53.8, followed closely by Breathitt in 15th in 20:56.9. Both of them improved on their personal bests set at the recent SEC Championships.

Also scoring for the Rebel women were Anne Threlkeld, Kayleigh Skinner, Kelsey Breathitt, Amy McCrory and Elise Luers.

The Ole Miss men, led by Martin Kirui’s 11th-place result, tied for seventh among the 24 competing teams. Florida State, Florida and Georgia were the top three teams in the 10K race. Ole Miss placed ahead of SEC foes Mississippi State, Tennessee, Alabama and Vanderbilt.

Kirui ran 31:29.8 to finish 11th overall. Last year, the Kenya native earned All-South Region honors when he placed 18th at the regional. Also scoring for the men were Kipchirchir Kiptoo, Max Holman, Al Lowe, Riley Young and Loren Newsom.

Waites, Breathitt and Kirui all have a chance to be selected to the NCAA Championships field as at-large individual qualifiers. The top two teams from each regional across the country automatically advance to the national meet, which will be held Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind. The rest of the 31-team field (13 at-large) and individuals will be announced on Sunday, no later than 6 p.m. CT.

AGATE

Women (6K)
12. Logan Waites – 20:53.8
15. Katie Breathitt – 20:56.9
41. Anne Threlkeld – 21:53.8
59. Kayleigh Skinner – 22:12.4
73. Kelsey Breathitt – 22:25.2
75. Amy McCrory – 22:27.9
83. Elise Luers – 22:38.0

Men (10K)
11. Martin Kirui – 31:29.8
43. Kipchirchir Kiptoo – 32:37.4
46. Max Holman – 32:48.2
73. Al Lowe – 33:24.9
90. Riley Young – 33:40.6
134. Loren Newsom – 34:54.5