On Friday, November 12, both Rice cross country teams will compete at the NCAA South Central Regional in Waco (Cottonwood Creek Golf Course).

The Women's 6K (3¾ miles) race will start at 10:00 a.m., CST.

The Men's 10K (6.2 miles) will begin at 11:00 a.m., CST.

Women's Regional Rankings [NATIONAL RANKING]

1. ARKANSAS SEC [8]
2. TEXAS Big 12
3. ABILENE CHRISTIAN WAC
4. RICE Conference USA
5. LSU SEC
6. TEXAS A&M SEC
7. ARKANSAS STATE Sun Belt
8. SMU American
9. TEXAS A&M-CORPUS. CHRISTI Southland
10. NEW ORLEANS Southland

Men's Regional Rankings [NATIONAL RANKING]

1. ARKANSAS SEC [7]
2. TEXAS Big 12 [14]
3. NORTH TEXAS Conference USA
4. RICE Conference USA
5. TEXAS A&M SEC
6. LSU SEC
7. MCNEESE STATE Southland
8. LAMAR WAC
9. INCARNATE WORD Southland
10. TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI Southland

The shame about this season for the guys is that it's a really good team in a South Central Region that is as tough as it has been in a decade. Hociel Landa is the leader of the team, and I expect the senior to have a shot for another at-large invitation to the NCAA Championships (next Saturday in Tallahassee). Alex Topini is the other key senior who should finish among the top 20.

The top 2 finishing teams from each of the 9 regions AUTOMATICALLY qualify for the NCAA Championships. The remaining 13 teams are chosen at-large, based on their season's results.

The top 4 individuals at each regional meet who are not on one of the qualifying teams will compete at the NCAA meet as individuals. Hociel did this last year.

Arkansas and Texas will finish 1-2 at the South Central Region, IF they each run their top people. As each could finish 3rd or 4th and still make it to the NCAAs as at-large, there is not so much pressure on them. I still think it will be as I predicted.

North Texas has been just ahead of Rice all year, so I expect this trend to continue. The wild card here is LSU, which was having an outstanding season, until they laid a big egg at the SEC meet. So, if they return to "regular season" form, I would favor them for 3rd, North Texas for 4th and Rice for 5th. Texas A&M also was a bit disappointing at conference, so they might bounce back. Those are the top 6 in the region.

Prediction

1. Arkansas
2. Texas
3. North Texas
4. Rice
5. LSU
6. Texas A&M

I realize now that I have done these out of order - just remember that the women run before the men.

Arkansas really might run a couple of "subs" since they are so much better than any other team. They recruited 4 of the top 10 available freshmen to go with a super-talented returning group. The rich get richer.

The big question mark is Texas. Normally, they have been a solid number 2 in the region, and though they are ranked in that spot, they do not have a national ranking. They are a bit down from usual, and someone could pull an upset. Right now, I expect Abilene Christian to be that team, although Rice could challenge if everyone has a super meet. I believe that LSU and Texas A&M both have the talent to finish ahead of both Abilene Christian and Rice, but I don't see it.

We all know by now who is the Rice leader - multiple time All American Grace Forbes. With the NCAAs just 8 days away, I do not expect Grace to go out all crazy - look for her to just run with the leaders until the last 800 or so meters. Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi, Alyssa Balandran and Caitlin Wosika are the key runners for a Rice good finish.

Prediction:

1. Arkansas
2. Texas
3. Abilene Christian
4. Rice
5. Texas A&M
6. LSU

Here is some information on the meet.

South Central Regional Meet History

TIMING SITE for RESULTS

And remember that the Top Five Teams at cross country regionals are awarded Directors Cup points for their school!

Through 3K, Arkansas is way ahead, with Texas, Abilene Christian, LSU, Rice and Texas A&M all fighting for 2nd.

Grace and 2 Arkansas runners are starting to pull away.

Caitlin Wosika and Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi are both among the top 30.

Through 5K, Grace has pulled away, and Rice is just 2 points out of 2nd!!!!

Grace wins by almost 100 meters. Waiting for team scores.

Unofficially, Rice gets 2nd. If this holds, we're going to the NCAA Championships!!!!

Woohoo!!!

I keep going over the numbers, and it does look like we made it!

Three in the top 20, very nicely done!

Arkansas 27
Rice 96
Texas 101
LSU 116
Abilene Christian 135
Texas A&M 182

1. Grace Forbes
13. Caitlin Wosika
20. Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi
21. Taigen Hunter-Galvan
49. Rachel Shoemaker
59. Haley Allen
65. Alyssa Balandran

This really is a great accomplishment - Caitlin and Taigen are not true distance runners. Just amazing.

It is incredibly difficult to make it to the NCAA Cross Country Championships - fewer than 9% of the teams make it (about 20% make it in NCAA Basketball, for example).

In the men's race, through 3K, as expected, Arkansas and Texas are way ahead of everyone else. North Texas is comfortably in 3rd. LSU, Texas A&M and Rice are battling for 4th. Big gap to 7th.

Halfway mark (5K), Hociel Landa is in 17th.

Rice is in 4th at the halfway point (Arkansas, Texas, North Texas, Rice)