USI Men's Cross Country Advances to D-II National Championship
MEN'S RESULTS - NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL
SOMERS, Wis. - The Southern Indiana men's cross country team will have the opportunity to compete for a national championship on its home course following a third-place finish at the 2009 NCAA D-II Midwest Regional hosted by UW-Parkside on Saturday. With the top-three placement, the Eagles will advance to the National Championship hosted in Evansville, Ind. on Nov. 21.
USI posted a team score of 90 to finish just two points behind Saginaw Valley State which finished second in the team standings. Grand Valley State took home the team title with a score of 38.
The Eagles were paced by Dustin Emerick who finished ninth overall. Emerick, a sophomore for the Eagles, ran the 10-kilometer course in a time of 32:56 and was named All-Region.
Teammates Bendan Devine and Andrew Dixon also earned All-Region honors for the Eagles. Devine, a sophomore, placed 12th overall in a time of 33:15, while Dixon, a junior, finished 13th also in a time of 33:15.
Although the Eagles are the only GLVC team to advance to the National Championship, Drury's Jaime Villa Zapatero will participate at the national meet by virtue of a second-place overall finish. Zapatero, the GLVC Runner of the Year, finished in a time of 32:28, just seven seconds behind winner Tyler Emmorey of Grand Valley State. His effort helped the Panthers to a fourth-place team finish.
UW-Parkside's Ben Orvold and Saint Joseph's Naza Sanchez finished 14th and 15th, respectively, to earn All-Region honors.
Bellarmine placed fifth overall in the 19-team field, Northern Kentucky finished ninth, Saint Joseph's was 12th, UW-Parkside was 13th, Indianapolis was 15th and Lewis placed 16th.