Cross Country Ready For NCAA South Central Regional
11/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 12, 2010
LIVE RESULTS
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU cross country program will continue postseason competition this Saturday at the 2010 NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco.
The meet will take place at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course with women's action beginning at 10 a.m., while the men will follow at approximately 11 a.m.
"We are definitely looking to bounce back from a very disappointing conference meet," TCU distance coach Shawn Winget said. "We will also be happy to complete in a non-altitude environment. Festus Kigen has qualified for Nationals twice, so he is looking to get back and Agnes Kemboi will be looking for her first opportunity to qualify."
Follow The Horned Frogs
Fans not able to attend Saturday's meet can follow it by logging onto www.GoFrogs.com. Results, photos and a full recap will be posted following the conclusion of the men's race.
A Closer Look At The TCU Women
Entering Saturday's action in Waco, the Horned Frogs have been led this fall by Agnes Kemboi and Tricia Terry. The duo has finished first and second overall amongst TCU runners in three out of the five meets this fall, including the Cowboy Jamboree where both placed in the top 20. Freshman Amanda Throckmorton had a strong outing at the 2010 MWC Championships, earning the second-best finish on the squad.
Overall, Kemboi has crossed the finish line in the top-5 at three different meets this season, while Terry has had an outstanding sophomore campaign, recording three top-20 finishes. As a team, the Horned Frogs have had success during the 2010 season, placing in the top-6 at three different meets, including first overall at the UTA Season Opener.
Breaking Down The TCU Men
For the majority of the 2010 cross country season, senior Festus Kigen and sophomore Alex De La Garza have paced the TCU attack, clocking in first and second amongst Horned Frog runners in their last three outings at the Cowboy Jamboree, Chile Pepper Festival and the MWC Championships.
De La Garza won the UTA Season Opener and by doing so earned MWC Cross Country Athlete of the Week accolades. Kigen has finished in the top-15 at all three of his appearances this fall. Fellow senior Jeff Pels has also had a solid season this fall, crossing the finish line ranked in the top-12 at two different meets.
Horned Frogs Stay Put In Regional Rankings
After opening the season No. 11, the TCU men's cross country team enters this weekend ranked in the top-15 of the South Central Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The men will head to the South Central Regional ranked No. 13 in the region.
On the women's side, TCU moved up from No. 9 to No. 8 in the South Central Region. The No. 8 ranking is the highest ranking on the women's side since opening the 2009 season at No. 8 overall.
TCU History At NCAA Regionals
The Frogs have a history of doing well in regional competition. Overall, TCU has sent at least one individual to the NCAA Championships in five of the last seven years.
On the men's side, senior Festus Kigen has a pair of top-10 finishes under his belt, boasting a fourth-place outcome in 2007, followed by a 10th place performance in 2008. Former TCU greats and Kenyan natives Kip Kangogo and Jackson Langat were among the top 25 finishers in 2005.
In 2003, Mary Kinyanjui and Ami Butler finished first and third at the meet to lead the TCU women to a fourth place finish in the team standings. Kinyanjui came back a year later to defend her title in Waco, crossing the finishing line with a personal best 6K time of 20:09. The Horned Frogs again posted a fourth-place finish as a squad.
NCAA In Sight
The top two teams in each race automatically qualify for the national meet while the top four individuals not on a qualifying team also advance to the 2010 NCAA Championships.
Among the nine regions being contested this weekend, the top two teams from each region automatically qualify to produce 18 teams for the national field. With a field size of 31 teams, the remaining 13 at-large team selections are made by an NCAA committee based on season performances.
A total of 36 individual runners automatically advance among the top four runners in each of the nine regions not on a qualifying team. Two individual at-large selections are made by the committee.
The 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships, which are hosted by Indiana State University, are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 22, in Terre Haute, Ind.
South Central Information
No. 11 Arkansas is the only program from the South Central Region that is listed in the top-30 of the latest men's national rankings, while Texas is also receiving votes.
On the women's side, No. 25 Texas lands inside the top-30 in the country, followed by Arkansas sitting just outside the rankings, but earning votes.
The Last Time Out
Festus Kigen placed 12th overall in the men's 8K to lead TCU at the 2010 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships.
Kigen crossed the finish line in 25:35.0 at Jacoby Golf Course. By placing 12th overall, Kigen, a 2010 All-America honoree and second-team all-conference selection, has now finished in the top 15 at the conference meet four-straight years.
On the women's side, sophomore Agnes Kemboi finished the 6K in 34th-place, while Amanda Throckmorton posted a 41st-place showing out of 72 competitors in Laramie.
Overall, the TCU women recorded a ninth-place finish in the final team standings with 219 points. The Horned Frog men closed the day in sixth-place with 166 points.
Up Next
Depending on the outcome of this weekend, TCU could compete at the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
Players Mentioned
