Cross Country Teams Travel to Louisville, KY for Regionals

Nov. 13, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – The cross country teams will travel to Louisville, KY this weekend to tape part in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. The meet will be held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park for the third time, all within the last four years. The men’s 10K competition will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by the women’s 6K race at 11:15. The top two teams and top four individuals earn automatic berths in the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 23.

Kim Ruck has the best shot of qualifying for the NCAA Championships. The sophomore from Greer, SC is coming off a ninth-place individual finish at the ACC Championships two weeks ago. Ruck recorded a personal best time over the 6000m course in Cary, NC, crossing the finish line in 20:26.1. Ruck was 62nd last season at the Southeast Regional, but it was only her second career 6K competition.

The 2008 women’s squad placed 10th in the final standings at the Southeast Regional, led by an all-region performance by then sophomore Jenna Baker. The 10th-place finish was Clemson’s best at the regional level since the 1999 team was ninth. This year, Clemson is ranked No. 12 in the latest Southeast Region poll according to the coaches association.

Clemson will be without Baker this weekend, as she recovers from injury. Kelsey Armstrong hopes to return to action for the Tigers. She missed the ACC Championships with an injury. Armstrong was the team’s first or second-best finisher in three meets early this season.

Freshman Lauren Reen has been a solid addition to the women’s team this season. She was 37th at the ACC Championships, a good finish for a first-time performer. Other scorers for the Tigers at the ACC meet were Stephanie Buffo, Alyssa Kulik and Sarah Turman.

The men’s team looks to improve on its ACC performance from two weeks ago. Veteran harriers Chris Slate, Jonathan Sunde, and Tyler Morey have been the most consistent performers for the team. Slate was the top finisher at the ACC Championships. The biggest impact newcomer has been Blake Kennedy, a native of Alpharetta, GA. Kennedy scored at the ACC meet for the Tigers.