University of Missouri
MidwestNCAARegional
Men's Cross Country Earns Automatic NCAA Berth
11/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 15, 1999
The University of Missouri made history on Saturday, November 13 at the Region V Championships in Champaign, Ill. Both the men's and women's teams earned automatic berths to the NCAA cross country championships with their second place finishes at the Region meet marking the first time in school history both teams automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships. Nine Tigers also earned All-Regional honors by finishing in the top-25, marking another first for Mizzou.
The men's title was won by No. 16 Minnesota with 56 points, 20 better than Mizzou's 76. The Tigers were able to come back from their one-point loss to Oklahoma State at the Big 12 Championships to defeat the Cowboys by 28, as they totaled 104 points. Host Illinois placed fourth with 155 points.
"This is the best day in Missouri cross country history," head coach Jeff Pigg said. "It is the first time that both teams have automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the same season and the first time we have ever had nine runners earn All-Region honors.
The men were led by junior Nick Smith who placed 6th overall completing the 10K course in 31:02. Fellow junior Adam MacDowell entered the shoot in 8th place in 31:06. Senior Joel McCune placed 17th in a time of 31:29 with junior Greg Speicher finishing in 31:33 for a 22nd place finish. All four of these men ran to All-Region V honors based on their top-25 finished. Sophomore Steve Wade was Missouri's No. 5 runner placing 34th in 31:54.
"This group of guys had a lot to prove and they came out here and ran great," said Pigg. "We have been preparing for this day all season and to run the way we did is exciting. To come back and beat OSU after they beat us by one point at conference says a lot about this group."
The Tigers season comes to a close on Monday, November 22 at the NCAA Championships in Bloomington, Ind. This will mark only the second time in school history that both teams will be competing at the NCAA Championships together. The first was last season as the women placed 21st with the men finishing 27th.
Men's Results Team (top-5 teams only) Place Points 1. Minnesota (No. 16) 56 2. MISSOURI 76 3. Oklahoma State 104 4. Illinois 155 5. Drake 188
Individual (Winner and MU only) Place Time 1. Chuck Sloan (OSU) 30:25 6. Nick Smith 31:02 8. Adam MacDowell 31:06 17. Joel McCune 31:29 22. Greg Speicher 31:33 34. Steve Wade 31:54 66. Phil Councilor 32:43 104. Mike Pitts 33:44
