WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University cross country squads will have the opportunity to compete for a national title when they race at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Monday, March 15. During last Sunday's selection day, both teams earned qualification, the first time both teams have earned bids since 2015. The women's 6000m will begin at 12:50 p.m., with the men's 10000m starting at 1:20 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Coverage of the race will be on ESPNU and the ESPN App, with a live stats link available on GUHoyas.com.
WOMEN'S TEAM PREVIEW:
- On March 5, GU clinched the BIG EAST Conference title thanks to strong performances by Sami Corman and Maggie Donahue, who finished first and second overall, respectively.
- The women's team was selected as the top-ranked squad in the Mid-Atlantic region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Week 7 regional rankings.
- The squad is also tabbed as the No. 21 team on the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Cross Country National Coaches' Poll for Week 7.
- Lineups: Alyssa Aldridge, Sami Corman, Katie Dammer, Maggie Donahue, Maegan Doody, Baylee Jones, Mary Hennelly.
MEN'S TEAM PREVIEW:
DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY ALTON MCKENZIE ON THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES:
"Coming off great performances at the BIG EAST Championships, I know both teams are excited to line up at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Coach Baker and Coach Bonsey have our women and men respectively well prepared. We're thrilled to have both programs back competing at the Cross Country NCAA Championship for the first time since 2015. Our men and women are ready to compete!"
TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY ASSISTANT COACH MITCHELL BAKER ON THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES:
"The women are in a good place; they've put their hearts into building the program back into a championship-level team, so coming off the BIG EAST win, they're hungry to take the next step against the NCAA's best. Six of our seven are new to this stage, but everyone has done a great job of learning from every opportunity the past six weeks together, so we are as ready as we can be for the intensity of the environment to focus on our race plan and make small improvements on what got us here."
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY COACH BRANDON BONSEY ON THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES:
"I'm so excited for the men to have the opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the NCAA on Monday. We were pleased with our race at the BIG EAST meet but since it was our first meet of the year––we also think we can run a lot better than that. We are running a really young group with the exception of
Jack Salisbury, but I think they are up for the challenge."
UP NEXT:
With the NCAA Championships, GU will officially conclude its 2021 cross country season and pivot to the 2021 track & field campaign.
