On Friday, both Rice teams will compete in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the 2019 NCAA Cross Country South Central Regional. The women run a 6K at 11:00 a.m., with the men racing a 10K at noon.

Texas is the slight favorite in the men's race over Arkansas, with Arkansas a lock to win the women's race over Texas.

Texas A&M looks good for 3rd in the women's race, with a big gap to 4-6. Rice should be in the mix for one of those spots.

Rice's men's team is really good, but this region is just too top heavy. Right now, Texas A&M and Lamar are ranked 3rd and 4th in the region, with Rice at 6th. But, I think the Owls have a shot at 3rd.

Only the top 2 teams from each of the 9 regions get automatic bids to Nationals, with 13 at-large. There are no men's or women's teams from this region that will get an at-large invitation.

The top 4 individuals from teams NOT qualifying will be invited to the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute next Saturday. Grace Forbes has an outside shot.

(11-14-2019 07:02 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Rice's men's team is really good, but this region is just too top heavy. ... Only the top 2 teams from each of the 9 regions get automatic bids to Nationals, with 13 at-large. There are no men's or women's teams from this region that will get an at-large invitation.

wow! Which of the 8 other regions are sufficiently more top heavy to have a chance of nabbing one or more of the 13 at-large selections?

The South Central is traditionally one of the worst regions.

(11-14-2019 08:28 PM)InterestedX Wrote:  The South Central is traditionally one of the worst regions.

Fact. But that has a lot to do with the weather (it's easier to put in quality miles in September in Boulder or Eugene or Seattle).

(11-14-2019 09:42 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(11-14-2019 08:28 PM)InterestedX Wrote:  The South Central is traditionally one of the worst regions.

Fact. But that has a lot to do with the weather (it's easier to put in quality miles in September in Boulder or Eugene or Seattle).

No doubt about that.

I'm on the course and Grace was among the top 4 at large at 2 miles.

Forbes is in 7th and Rice in 5th at the final split.

Forbes finishes in 6th, Rice in 5th... Behind Arkansas, UT, A&M, and UTRGV... One of those is not like the other.

(11-15-2019 12:25 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Forbes finishes in 6th, Rice in 5th... Behind Arkansas, UT, A&M, and UTRGV... One of those is not like the other.

Grace Forbes will be going to the NCAA Championships! She was the FIRST at large runner. She and Khayla Patel make all-Region (top 25).

Also "not like the others" are (8) Houston (9) Baylor (12) LSU and (16) SMU.

Arkansas women with a perfect score.

Amazingly, only two foreigners on the top three teams -- Viljoen (Arkansas) and Gillespie (Texas).

After 5400 meters the guys are 5th. Freshman Ace Castillo is 28th

At 7400 meters, Ace is still 28th and Rice 5th. Our top runner Hociel Landa was sluggish early but has moved up to 35th.

Rice finishes 5th in the men's race. Landa finishes in 33rd and is our top finisher.

Ahead of us were Texas, Arkansas, A&M, and Lamar. Directly behind us were Arkansas State, UTRGV, LSU, UTA, and Baylor (in that order).

The guys had a good race. Hociel Landa finished well. Connor Meaux had his best race since he's been at Rice. 5th is a big deal for Leerfield Cup (Athletic Director)points, because 6th gets none.

The weather was perfect - high 40s, calm and sunny.

Yay!! WTG, Owls!!

Thanks for the updates, WRC.

Thanks for the updates, and good results.