Cross Country Travels to Indiana for Pre-NCAA Nationals

Oct. 14, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Terre Haute, IN this weekend to take part in the Pre-NCAA Nationals at Indiana State’s LaVern Gibson Course. The meet features a blue and white race for both the men’s 8K and women’s 6K, and will feature a number of nationally-ranked teams. Clemson teams will both compete in the blue race, starting with the women’s 6K at 12:00 PM (Eastern) and men’s 8K at 1:10 PM. The meet will be held at the same course that will play host to the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 22.

Both races will feature nine teams ranked in the current top 30 of this week’s national poll compiled by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The women’s blue race will feature 39 total teams, including a pair of teams (Florida State, 3rd; Arizona, 6th) ranked inside the top 10.

Clemson’s women are ranked No. 5 in the most recent Southeast Region poll. The Tigers are three-for-three this season in team victories. Clemson won the Gamecock Invitational on Sept. 3, the Clemson Invitational on Sept. 17, and the Charlotte Invitational on Oct. 1.

Kim Ruck has been the team’s top performer the last two meets. The junior from Greer, SC won the individual title at the Clemson Invitational and followed that performance with a runner-up showing in Charlotte. Ruck was an All-ACC and all-region competitor last fall for the Tigers.

Providing support this season on the women’s team has been several veterans, including senior Stephanie Buffo and junior Alyssa Kulik. A native of nearby Simpsonville, Kulik has been the team’s No. 2 finisher each of the last two meets. She placed sixth at Charlotte in the team’s most recent race. Buffo has a pair of top-10 finishes to her credit, including a seventh-place effort on Oct. 1 in Charlotte.

The men’s team will also face nine nationally-ranked opponents in its blue race Saturday. A total of 35 teams will compete in the race, including No. 1 Stanford and No. 15 and ACC rival Florida State.

Ty McCormack has been outstanding so far this season for the Tigers, despite being a freshman. He is coming off an individual championship – his second of the season – at the Charlotte Invitational. He posted an 8K best of 24:37.4 and was subsequently named ACC Performer-of-the-Week for his accomplishment. McCormack also won the Gamecock meet to start the season.

Nic Tones made his Clemson debut two weeks ago at the Charlotte Invitational and had a solid performance. He was the team’s No. 3 runner and was 24th overall, just one spot behind senior Chris Slate.