DALLAS – The reigning Women’s Conference USA Individual Champion from Rice, Grace Forbes took home the individual title at the NCAA South Central Region, crossing the 6K finish line in 19:59.3 to help Rice earn its first automatic bid to the national championships since 2010.
Forbes had the 10
th fastest time out of all regional sites with her 5:21 mile pace finishing with her second-best time of the season. She also earned her fifth individual title of the season, finishing 16 seconds ahead of second place. Forbes became just the second Owl to win an NCAA Regional title, joining former Rice great Nicole Mericle, who took home individual honors in both 2008 and 2010.
Joining her in the top 25 at the South Central Regional was Rice’s Caitlin Woskia (21:12.2) who finished 13
th, Rice’s Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi (21:25.2) in 20
th and Taigen Hunter-Galvan of Rice who posted a 21:25.5 for 21
st. On the men’s side Rice’s Hociel Landa clocked a 31:10.1 in the 10K for 15
th while UNT’s Jack Beamount finished in 31:26.6 for 18
th.
Charlotte’s men had a stellar day as two finished in the top 10 individually with reigning C-USA Champion Paul Arredondo finishing in 29:26.5 for seventh overall in the Southeast Regional. Nik Scudder was just behind him in 11
th with his 29:40.6. Charlotte as a team finished fifth overall. On the women’s side in that regional, Charlotte’s Louise Lounes placed 12
th with a 20:32.0.
Down at the South Regional, Middle Tennessee’s Jacob Choge placed sixth in the 10K with a 29:38.44 and the Blue Raiders standout Eusila Chepkemei finished the women’s 6K in 20:11.97 for 12
th.
The NCAA will announce the official national championship field via a 30-minute selection show on Saturday, November 13 at 4 p.m. Central time on
NCAA.com.
WOMEN South Central Regional
TEAM
2. Rice – 96 pts – AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
21. North Texas – 562 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
1. Grace Forbes, Rice, 19:59.3
13. Caitlin Wosika, Rice, 21:12.2
20. Lourdes Vivas De Lorenzi, Rice – 21:25.2
21. Taigen Hunter-Galvan, Rice – 21:25.5
MENS South Central Regional
TEAM
5. Rice – 201 pts
8. North Texas, 253 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
15. Hociel Landa, Rice – 31:10.1
18. Jack Beaumont, North Texas – 31:26.6
24. Victor Neiva, North Texas – 31:44.3
WOMEN South Regional
TEAM
8. Middle Tennessee– 198 pts
11. Southern Miss – 361 pts
24. UAB – 703 pts
26. FAU – 751 pts
30. FIU – 791 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
12. Eusila Chepkemei, MTSU – 20:11.97
MEN South Regional
TEAM
6. Middle Tennessee – 178 pts
25. Florida Atlantic – 723 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
6. Jacob Choge, MTSU – 29:38.44
16. Hillary Kimaiyo, MTSU – 30:00.47
WOMEN Southeast Regional
TEAM
10. Charlotte – 305 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
12. Louise Lounes, 20:32.0
MEN Southeast Regional
TEAM
5. Charlotte – 164 pts
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
7. Paul Arredondo, Charlotte – 29:26.5
11. Nickolas Scudder, Charlotte – 29:40.6
WOMEN Mid-Atlantic Regional
TEAM
20. Marshall – 537 pts
MEN Mid-Atlantic Regional
TEAM
22. Marshall – 596 pts
WOMEN Mountain Regional
TEAM
11. UTEP – 281 pts
MEN Mid-Atlantic Regional
TEAM
22. Marshall – 596 pts
WOMEN Mid-Atlantic Regional
TEAM
20. Marshall - 537 pts