Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
STANFORD, Calif. -- For the 22nd consecutive year, both the Stanford men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the NCAA Championships, extending the nation's longest ongoing streak.
The Cardinal women received at-large bid on Saturday, a day after the NCAA West Regionals at Seattle's Jefferson Park Golf Course. The men had qualified automatically by finishing second, but the Card women were fourth, missing automatic advancement. However, Stanford earned enough qualifying points through season results against teams already in the field to advance.
The top two teams in each of the nation's nine regionals qualified automatically, and the top four individuals not on those teams who finished in the top 25 of their races. Thirteen teams in each of the men's and women's divisions received at-large berths, creating fields of 31. Also, two individuals were selected at-large for each race, creating fields of 255 individual entrants.
The NCAA Championships are Saturday, Nov. 21, at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky. The women's race will begin at 9 a.m. PT (noon ET), followed by the men's at approximately 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET). A live webcast of the championships will be broadcast from 9 a.m. PT until the conclusion of the awards ceremony on NCAA.com.
This will be the 23rd consecutive NCAA team appearance for the Stanford women – the longest streak in the nation -- and 28th overall. Stanford has won five NCAA women's titles (1996, 2003, 2005-07).
The Stanford men have advanced 22 consecutive years and 24 times overall. The Cardinal has won four men's team championships (1996-97, 2002-03) and was second last year.
Stanford's teams have had 66 All-Americans combine for 126 All-America honors. The teams have combined for 24 NCAA podium finishes and nine NCAA titles.