Four WAC runners earned automatic qualifying berths to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Greenville, S.C., to be held on Nov. 19. Automatic berths included the top two teams from each of the nine regional competitions and the top four runners not on a qualifying team. At-large bids were granted to 13 additional teams and two individuals in both the mens and womens competition. Regional races were conducted on campus sites on Nov. 10.
In the West regional competition held in Tucson, Ariz., Hawai`is Cheryl Smith finished eighth with a time of 21:36 over the 6,000-meter course. Smith was this years WAC champion and the WAC Runner of the Year. Joining Smith at the championships will be WAC Freshman of the Year, SMUs Karin van Rooyen. Van Rooyen finished second in the South Central race held in College Station, Texas, with a time of 20:48.
From the Mountain regional, UTEP qualified two runners for the championships. For the men, WAC champion and WAC Runner of the Year Bashar Ibrahim completed the 10,000-meter course in Provo, Utah, in 31:32 for 10th place. From the Miner womens team, Corine van Beek ran the 6000-meter race in 22:46, placing 24th out of 118 runners.
Boise State, Fresno State and San Jose State also competed in the West regional, while Rice ran in the South Central regional. Nevada competed in the Mountain regional and Tulsa ran in the Midwest regional. For team and individual results
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