EVANSVILLE, Ind.—After winning its fifth straight GLVC title two weeks ago, the No. 8-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s cross country team shifts its focus to the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championships Saturday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The Screaming Eagles enter this weekend’s regional meet with one goal in mind: advance to the NCAA II Championships which will be held November 21 on its home course in Evansville, Indiana.
USI, which is second in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Midwest Region Rankings, has plenty of reason to believe it will accomplish that goal. The Eagles, who must finish in the top three to advance to nationals, had five runners finish in the top 12 of the GLVC Championships two weeks ago, including sophomores Brendan Devine and Dustin Emerick.
Devine and Emerick were third and fourth, respectively, at the GLVC Championships and figure to be at the front of USI’s pack Saturday. Devine earned All-Region honors a year ago after finishing ninth at the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships, while Emerick competed on the national stage when he ran the 10,000 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Track and Field Championships last spring.
The NCAA II Midwest Region Championship begins at 10 a.m. with the women’s 6k race, while the men’s 10k race begins at 11 a.m.