Princeton University Athletics
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NCAA Regionals Up Next for Women's Cross Country
November 10, 2011 | Women's Cross Country
Official Mid-Atlantic Regional Site
PRINCETON, N.J. (11/10/11) - The Princeton women's cross country team will race in the 2011 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Saturday, Nov. 12. The event is hosted by University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. The women's 6k race begins at 1:15 p.m.
The top two teams from each regional will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. In addition, 13 at-large teams will be selected. Thirty-six individuals automatically qualify by being one of the top four regional finishers not on an advancing team, with two additional individuals chosen by the committee.
Last year the Tigers finished fourth but earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. Alex Banfich was third overall at 20:04 and should again be Princeton's top finisher. She has been Princeton's number one all season and finished third overall at Heps two weeks ago. Juniors Alexis Mikaelian and Greta Feldman have been consistently two or three. Mikaelian ran the regional last year but just missed scoring with a time of 21:49. A number of runners will battle for the final two scoring slots. Sophomore Molly Higgins was the No. 4 in the last two races. Sophomore Marissa Cummings and freshman Andrea Keklak have been scorers as of late and should give Princeton some low numbers.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional is one of the toughest regionals in the NCAA and will be again this year. Both Villanova and Georgetown have been ranked No. 1 this season and currently sit second and seventh, respectively. The Tigers will also have to contend with West Virginia and Penn State.
Princeton has been in the NCAA Championships as a team eight times, and is on a seven-year streak.
Since the current NCAA Regional format went into effect in 2001, Princeton has won the Mid-Atlantic Regional four times and has been in the top five seven seasons.