Nov. 9, 2011

THIS WEEK
The No. 21 Minnesota men's cross country team is set to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The event will be held Saturday in DeKalb, Ill.

2011 NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL
The NCAA Midwest Regional will be hosted by the Northern Illinois University. The men's 10K race is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. before the women's 6K race at 1:15 p.m. The top two teams from every region will advance automatically to the national meet. The rest of the 31-team field (13 at-large) will be announced on Sunday, no later than 6 p.m. CT.

LAST YEAR AT THE MIDWEST REGIONAL
Minnesota finished third a year ago at the Regional behind Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Gophers scored 119 points behind the Sooners 43 and Cowboys 50.

IN THE RANKINGS
Minnesota is currently ranked No.3 in the USTFCCCA Regional rankings. Oklahoma State sits at the top and Oklahoma is No 2.

SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Junior Paul Hilson named as a 2011 Big Ten sportsmanship honorees. Athletes named to the list are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

GOODBYE 8K AND HELLO 10K
From here on out the final races for Minnesota will be marked at 10K race opposed to an 8-kilometer.

MEAD BACK AT THE REGIONAL
The last time senior All-American Hassan Mead ran at the Midwest Regional he came home with the individual title. Mead won the crown back in 2009 in Springfield, Mo after covering the 10K course in 30:31.9.

UP NEXT

The 2011 NCAA Championships will be held on Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind. The Gophers will need to finish first or second to automatically make the 31-team field. If not they will rely on   points accumulated in early season races to be awarded an at-large bid to the Championships.