Nov. 21, 2002
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis will look to end its cross country seasons on another high note when the Aggies travel east for the 2002 NCAA Division II Championships, being hosted on Saturday by Ashland (Ohio) University.
Competition for the national championship meet begins Saturday at 10 a.m. (PST) with the men's 10-kilometer race at Brookside Golf Course and will be followed by the women's 6K race beginning at 11 a.m. (PST). Cold weather is expected for the Ashland area at race time with highs predicted for the upper 30s. Partly cloudy skies are forecast with a snow a possibility in the evening.
The Aggies earned their trip to the NCAA Finals with strong performances at the West Region Championships at Woodwark Park in Fresno on Nov. 9. The Aggie women captured their fifth regional title in six years, while the men were a strong second to champion Chico State. The top three teams in both races qualified for the national finals.
UC Davis has a strong tradition at the national championships. The Aggie women have earned a berth in all 22 NCAA Division II Championships - an NCAA record - and have finished in the top 10 a record 20 times. UC Davis has finished third the last two seasons and had its best showing in 1991 when it was second. Junior Jessica Neu earned All-America honors for the Aggies last year, finishing 15th.
"The preparation for nationals is done and by the time you get to nationals, attitude is key," said UC Davis Coach Sue Williams, named the regional's women's coach of the year. "You run the race just trying to finish in front of people."
The men's team has also enjoyed success on the national stage, tying for fifth in 2001 and taking fifth in 2000. Altogether, UC Davis has been in the "Sweet Sixteen" in nine of the past 11 seasons. Seniors Steve Laurie and Nate Bristow return to the championships after each earning All-America honors in 2001. Laurie, who was 11th at the regional, was 37th overall at last year's NCAA Finals while Bristow was 43rd.
"Nationals are nice and simple," said Williams. "You've had all season long to find how your team races well, so we'll focus more on ourselves than on the competition."
Chico State and Alaska Anchorage will also represent the west region in the men's race while Chico State and UC San Diego will race the women's.
NOTE: Complete coverage of the NCAA Championships, including a webcast of Saturday's races are available by clicking here.
UC DAVIS AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN
2001 (T5th), 2000 (5th), 1999 (10th), 1998 (T11th), 1997 (14th), 1995 (14th), 1993 (15th), 1992 (12th), 1991 (4th), 1985 (14th), 1984 (10th), 1976 (11th), 1975 (5th), 1974 (14th), 1972 (8th), 1971(14th), 1970 (3rd), 1969 (7th), 1968 (5th), 1967(16th).
WOMEN
2001 (3rd), 2000 (3rd), 1999 (13th), 1998 (4th),1997 (8th), 1996 (9th), 1995 (10th), 1994 (3rd),1993 (6th), 1992 (7th), 1991 (2nd), 1990 (6th), 1989 (10th), 1988 (3rd), 1987 (7th), 1986 (7th), 1985 (4th), 1984 (8th), 1983 (5th), 1982 (3rd), 1981 (4th).
