Nov. 14, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio -- Fresh off its first-ever Mid-American Conference Championship, Miami heads to West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday in the hopes of a strong showing at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
The RedHawks are ranked fourth in the region and with a strong showing could earn a spot in the NCAA Championship race Nov. 24. The top-two regional finishers earn an automatic bid, while 13 others across the nine regions will earn at-large berths. Individuals can also advance should their teams fail to qualify.
"If we want to make nationals, we have to get in front of a couple of teams," Head Coach Rita Arndt-Molis admitted. "I think it is realistric to run for our ranking. I am anxious to focus not on the outcome, but on the process. We know how to compete and I think the girls are ready to go to work and see where the chips fall.
In its last action, Miami made history by placing five runners among the top 13 finishers to easily outdistance the MAC field. Sophomore Rachel Patterson (Rochester, Minn.) and Amanda Mirochna (Naperville, Ill.) were named first-team all-conference for their spots in the top seven, while junior Laura Neufarth, junior Kelsey McHugh (Columbus) and Katie Lenahan (Cincinnati) each earned second-team honors.
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"What would make me happy is if we go out there and race and we perform at a really high level," Arndt continued. "If we can get to nationals, I will be over the moon. The thing the girls have done unbelieveably well this year is to hold each other and to push each other and hold each other accountable.
Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State are the favorites, but Notre Dame and Indiana join the RedHawks as possible upstarts.
The top 25 runners make the all-region and MU could be well-represented. "I think we have four runners have a chance if we race well and engage with each other. We have to go out and compete near the front."
Arndt is no stranger to success at the regional level, winning Great Lakes Coach of the Year honors in each of the last two years while at Michigan State.
Complete results will be available after the race on MURedHawks.com.
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