University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 10
Stillwater, Okla.
10:30 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
NCAA Midwest Regional
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Gophers Travel to Stillwater for NCAA Regionals
11/9/2023 3:45:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota cross country programs will begin their NCAA postseason this Friday, Nov. 9 as they head to Stillwater, Okla., for the 2023 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. The women's 6K will kick things off at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course at 10:30 a.m. followed by the men's 10K at 11:30 a.m.
THE SQUAD
The Gophers will have a roster representing both sides of the program at Friday's regional.
The women's squad will consist of Emma Atkinson, Elsa Bergman, Lila Branchaw, Brianne Brewster, Zoie Dundon, Taylor Kreitinger, Caroline Mendyk, Erin Reidy and Ali Weimer.
The men's crew includes Emmet Anderson, Leo Goodman, Eli Hoeft, Noah Kohut-Jackson, Aaron Leavens, Owen Lindseth, Dan VanAcker and Griffin Ward.
LAST TIME OUT
The University of Minnesota cross country teams competed at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wis., at the Zimmer Championship Course on the morning of Oct. 27. Both the men's and women's teams finished ninth overall. The women's program was headlined by Brianne Brewster, a senior from Burnsville, Minn., who was 28th overall. Brewster's finish improved her career-best finish at the conference meet by 33 spots, up from her 61st-place finish in 2022. Brewster clocked a 22:01.6 in the muddy and rainy conditions in Madison. Minnesota's men were led by Eli Hoeft, a senior, who capped off his conference meet career with his best finish in 47th, besting his 64th-place finish in 2021.
REGIONAL HISTORY
Minnesota has fared fairly well in its time competing in the Midwest region, particularly on the women's side. Since 2003, the women have never finished below fifth, claiming eight top-two finishes and four team titles over that span.
Over that same span, the men's side has accumulated 10 NCAA Championships appearances on five top-two finishes, with one regional title to boot.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Minnesota women enter the NCAA regionals ranked No. 6 in the Midwest Region, moving up one spot from No. 14 last week.
ADVANCING CRITERIA
All teams competing on Friday will be doing so with the hopes of advancing to the NCAA Championships later this month. The question stands, however, of what they need to do in order to advance.
There are 31 team spots available at the NCAA Championships and nationally, there are nine regional meets held each season. For each regional meet, the top-two finishing teams automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships, taking 18 spots and leaving 13 to be assigned. From there, the NCAA DI Cross Country Subcommittee will then choose the remaining 13 teams at-large to fill out the field.
Those 13 at-large spots are determined by a number of factors, none more important than each team's performance at their respective regional meet. Then, regular and postseason results are taken into account, if need be.
In the case where a team doesn't advance, student-athletes from that team are able to advance individually as well. From each regional, the first four finishers who both do not belong to an advancing team and finished within the top-25 spots will automatically advance to the NCAA Championships to compete unattached. Like in team selection, there are two at-large bids available as well to the highest-placing individuals at a regional that were not automatic qualifiers.
THE SQUAD
The Gophers will have a roster representing both sides of the program at Friday's regional.
The women's squad will consist of Emma Atkinson, Elsa Bergman, Lila Branchaw, Brianne Brewster, Zoie Dundon, Taylor Kreitinger, Caroline Mendyk, Erin Reidy and Ali Weimer.
The men's crew includes Emmet Anderson, Leo Goodman, Eli Hoeft, Noah Kohut-Jackson, Aaron Leavens, Owen Lindseth, Dan VanAcker and Griffin Ward.
LAST TIME OUT
The University of Minnesota cross country teams competed at the 2023 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wis., at the Zimmer Championship Course on the morning of Oct. 27. Both the men's and women's teams finished ninth overall. The women's program was headlined by Brianne Brewster, a senior from Burnsville, Minn., who was 28th overall. Brewster's finish improved her career-best finish at the conference meet by 33 spots, up from her 61st-place finish in 2022. Brewster clocked a 22:01.6 in the muddy and rainy conditions in Madison. Minnesota's men were led by Eli Hoeft, a senior, who capped off his conference meet career with his best finish in 47th, besting his 64th-place finish in 2021.
REGIONAL HISTORY
Minnesota has fared fairly well in its time competing in the Midwest region, particularly on the women's side. Since 2003, the women have never finished below fifth, claiming eight top-two finishes and four team titles over that span.
Over that same span, the men's side has accumulated 10 NCAA Championships appearances on five top-two finishes, with one regional title to boot.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Minnesota women enter the NCAA regionals ranked No. 6 in the Midwest Region, moving up one spot from No. 14 last week.
ADVANCING CRITERIA
All teams competing on Friday will be doing so with the hopes of advancing to the NCAA Championships later this month. The question stands, however, of what they need to do in order to advance.
There are 31 team spots available at the NCAA Championships and nationally, there are nine regional meets held each season. For each regional meet, the top-two finishing teams automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships, taking 18 spots and leaving 13 to be assigned. From there, the NCAA DI Cross Country Subcommittee will then choose the remaining 13 teams at-large to fill out the field.
Those 13 at-large spots are determined by a number of factors, none more important than each team's performance at their respective regional meet. Then, regular and postseason results are taken into account, if need be.
In the case where a team doesn't advance, student-athletes from that team are able to advance individually as well. From each regional, the first four finishers who both do not belong to an advancing team and finished within the top-25 spots will automatically advance to the NCAA Championships to compete unattached. Like in team selection, there are two at-large bids available as well to the highest-placing individuals at a regional that were not automatic qualifiers.
2025 Griak Invitational Hype
Friday, September 19
Cinematic Recap: 2025 Oz Memorial
Tuesday, September 02
Cinematic Recap: 2024 NCAA Championships
Monday, November 25
NCAA Championship Send Off
Thursday, November 21