SEATTLE, Wash. -- Head coach
Helen Lehman-Winters thought it would take a top-five finish by USF's women's cross country team at the West Regionals to have any hopes at all of receiving an at-large berth into the NCAA Championships next weekend in Louisville, Ky.
The team's hopes of earning a trip to Louisville are very much alive as the Dons finished fifth at the West Regionals held on Friday at the Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle, Wash. USF's 151 points trailed only top-10 programs Oregon, which won the event with 64 points, Stanford (85), Arizona (85) and Washington (96).
UC Davis finished sixth with 177, followed by UCLA at 217.
USF's men's team turned in its best finish ever at regionals, placing 12th with 332 points.
Junior
Jose Madera paced the Dons with a 24th place finish, covering the 10k course in 30:14.48. With his top-25 finish, Madera earned an at-large berth to next Saturday's NCAA Championships in Louisville.
The women's squad will learn its NCAA fate tomorrow when the at-large teams are announced.
WCC champion
Eva Krchova paced a strong USF effort this morning with a 19th place finish, covering the 6k course in 20:09.11. Teammate
Elena Burkard finished right behind Krchova with a time of 20:09.23.
Laura Suur covered the course in 20:26.67, good for a 31st place finish.
Alice Baker also finished in the top-40, touring the course in 20:41.07 for 37th place.
Maor Tiyouri (44th; 20:48.37),
Chloe Treleven (58th; 21:06.90) and
Kate Jamboretz (132; 22:04.43) rounded out USF's finishers.
Jordan Hasay of Oregon won the individual race with a time of 19:15.58, comfortably ahead of Cal Poly SLO's Laura Hollander (19:21.74).
Paced by Madera's 24th place effort, the Dons totaled 332 points for its best finish ever in regional competition.
Steven Garboden finished 53rd with a time of 30:36.23 while
Ganbileg Bor covered the course in 30:30.57 to finish 46th.
Freshman
Eric Causey's time of 31:24.71 was good for 97th place, while
Gustavo Mena finished 114th with a time of 31:50.22.
Jarrett Moore placed 133rd with a time of 32:18.79 while
Jordan Baker finished 159th at 33:03.08.
