2011 NCAA Cross Country Regional Championship Preview

ELMHURST, Ill. - With the conclusion of The Summit League Cross Country Championships two weeks ago, all 10 league teams head to their respective NCAA Regional Championship Saturday, in hopes of earning a spot at the NCAA Championships.

Five Summit League teams enter Saturday's NCAA Regional races ranked among the top-15 of their respective region by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association. Southern Utah's men's team, the 2011 men's champion, remains the league's highest ranked team holding on to sixth in the Mountain region. After a second-place finish at the championships, the North Dakota State men's team finds its way into the rankings at 12^th in the Midwest region, while the South Dakota State men's team is 13^th. On the women's side, Southern Utah holds onto the 10^th ranked spot in the Mountain region, while the 2011 women's champion, North Dakota State holds on to 14^th in the Midwest region.

The top two teams and top four individuals on non-qualifying teams automatically advance to the NCAA Championships. Additional teams and individuals are chosen through an at-large process following the regional competition.

GREAT LAKES REGIONAL
NCAA Regional Page
Host: Toledo
Site: Ottawa Park Golf Course - Toledo, Ohio
Men's 10K Race at 12 p.m. | Women's 6k Race at 1:15 p.m.

Summit League Teams Participating
IPFW
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 10^th | W: 9^th

IUPUI
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 7^th | W: 8^th

Oakland
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 6^th | W: 7^th

MIDWEST REGIONAL
NCAA Regional Page
Host: Northern Illinois
Site: Anderson Field - DeKalb, Ill.
Men's 10K Race at 12 p.m. | Women's 6k Race at 1:15 p.m.

Summit League Teams Participating
UMKC
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 4^th | W: 3^rd

North Dakota State
Current Regional Ranking: M: 12^th | W: 14^th
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 2^nd | W: 1^st

Oral Roberts
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 9^th | W: 6^th

South Dakota
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 5^th | W: 5^th

South Dakota State
Current Regional Ranking: M: 13^th
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 3^rd | W: 4^th

Western Illinois
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 8^th | W: 10^th

MOUNTAIN REGIONAL
NCAA Regional Page
Host: BYU
Site: Easy Bay Golf Course - Provo, Utah
Men's 10K Race at 11 a.m. | Women's 6k Race at 12:15 p.m.

Summit League Teams Participating
Southern Utah
Current Regional Ranking: M: 6^th | W: 10^th
2011 Summit League Finish - M: 1^st | W: 2^nd