Women’s Cross Country Finishes Seventh at Southeast Regional

Will Await Word On Possible At-Large Berth to NCAA Championships

11/11/06 6:42PM

LOUISVILLE, KY - William and Mary’s women’s cross country team ran well today at the Southeast Regional, but will have to await word on a possible at-large berth to the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row after finishing seventh in the 32-team field. Second-ranked North Carolina State won the regional with 61 points, and also boasted the individual champion in Julia Lucas. The top two teams earned automatic bids to the national meet, and four teams earned at-large berths last year including the Tribe.

A trio of seniors led William and Mary in the region championships. Meghan Bishop (Blue Bell, Pa.) ran the six kilometer course in 21:33.4, just missing out on her second all-region honor by finishing 28th (top 25 finishers are all-region). Julia Cathcart (Starkville, Miss.) came through the finish line nine seconds later in 35th, and Anna Parker (Charlotte, N.C.) finished 55th in 22:12.2. Junior Kaitlin Hurley (Portland, Ore.) was 59th in 22:15.4, and Emily Gousen (Arlington, Va.) finished her first regional appearance in 64th (22:19.3). Freshman Anna Brousell (Wilmington, Del.) was 68th in 22:22.3, and sophomore Emily Schroeder (Midlothian, Va.) placed 77th with a time of 22:29.

The at-large selections will be announced tomorrow, Sunday, November 12, at 7 p.m. If the Tribe is selected to the NCAA Championships, it will race in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Monday, November 20. Regardless of the selection committee’s decision, William and Mary will compete for the ECAC Championship on Saturday, November 18.

NCAA Southeast Region Championships (6K)
Top Five Teams
1. #2 North Carolina State 61
2. #14 Duke 70
3. #26 Virginia Tech 83
4. #22 Virginia 109
5. Wake Forest 164
…
7. WILLIAM AND MARY 236

Top Five Individuals
1. Julia Lucas (NCST) 20:15.6
2. Michelle Sikes (WFU) 20:23.0
3. Emily McCabe (DUKE) 20:24.4
4. Maddie McKeever (DUKE) 20:29.5
5. Bona Jones (NCST) 20:32.3

W&M Individuals
28. Meghan Bishop 21:33.4
35. Julia Cathcart 21:42.3
55. Anna Parker 22:12.2
59. Kaitlin Hurley 22:15.4
64. Emily Gousen 22:19.3
68. Anna Brousell 22:22.3
77. Emily Schroeder 22:29.0