Friday, November 9
College Station, Texas
9:15 a.m. CT
Rice University
vs
NCAA South Central Regional
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
WXC: Vivas de Lorenzi Qualifies for NCAA Championships
11/9/2018 11:09:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Owls place 5th overall at South Central Regional
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Rice sophomore Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi earned her first career NCAA Championship berth by placing 10th overall at Friday's NCAA South Central Regional Championship 6k race, hosted by Texas A&M.
As a team the Owls placed fifth overall (162 points) while Arkansas (21 points), Texas (99 points), Texas State (122 points) and Texas A&M (154 points) finished 1st-4th, respectively.
Vivas de Lorenzi, from Spring, Texas, qualified for the NCAA's by taking the fourth and final individual spot not associated with either of the top two qualifying teams (Arkansas and Texas). Vivas de Lorenzi made an 11-spot jump between the 2k and 4k distance marks before climbing to 10th and finishing in a time of 20:56, becoming the 14th different Owl to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
In addition to Vivas de Lorenzi, the Owls received NCAA All-Regional performances from freshman Ryann Helmers (17th-21:21) and junior Khayla Patel (25th-21:36). Helmers, from Sanderson, Texas, was the second-fastest freshman in the race behind individual champion Katrina Robinson of Arkansas. Patel, from Houston, made up ground late by climbing 11 spots between the 4k and 6k marks to earn her second career All-Regional honor.
Rice freshmen Ashley Messineo (42nd-22:05) and Alyssa Balandran (74th-22:48) scored the final points for the Owls in their first NCAA South Central appearances while sophomore Mary Claire Neal placed 99th overall (23:22).
"Our team performed well today in the mud and wind," Rice head coach Jim Bevan said. "Lourdes made a big step forward by qualifying for nationals and Ryann was superb. Ashley (Messineo) has done a great job this year, consistently being our fourth runner and Aylssa (Balandran) really stepped up today. We showed how much we've improved since the last time we were here when TCU beat us and we made up 17 points on Texas A&M. We started the season ranked 11th in the region and finished fifth. It's been a great fall with a bunch of great young ladies. Hopefully we are laying down a great foundation for next year."
Vivas de Lorenzi will compete at the NCAA Championships next Saturday, Nov. 17 in Madison, Wis., hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
-RiceOwls.com-
As a team the Owls placed fifth overall (162 points) while Arkansas (21 points), Texas (99 points), Texas State (122 points) and Texas A&M (154 points) finished 1st-4th, respectively.
Vivas de Lorenzi, from Spring, Texas, qualified for the NCAA's by taking the fourth and final individual spot not associated with either of the top two qualifying teams (Arkansas and Texas). Vivas de Lorenzi made an 11-spot jump between the 2k and 4k distance marks before climbing to 10th and finishing in a time of 20:56, becoming the 14th different Owl to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
In addition to Vivas de Lorenzi, the Owls received NCAA All-Regional performances from freshman Ryann Helmers (17th-21:21) and junior Khayla Patel (25th-21:36). Helmers, from Sanderson, Texas, was the second-fastest freshman in the race behind individual champion Katrina Robinson of Arkansas. Patel, from Houston, made up ground late by climbing 11 spots between the 4k and 6k marks to earn her second career All-Regional honor.
Rice freshmen Ashley Messineo (42nd-22:05) and Alyssa Balandran (74th-22:48) scored the final points for the Owls in their first NCAA South Central appearances while sophomore Mary Claire Neal placed 99th overall (23:22).
"Our team performed well today in the mud and wind," Rice head coach Jim Bevan said. "Lourdes made a big step forward by qualifying for nationals and Ryann was superb. Ashley (Messineo) has done a great job this year, consistently being our fourth runner and Aylssa (Balandran) really stepped up today. We showed how much we've improved since the last time we were here when TCU beat us and we made up 17 points on Texas A&M. We started the season ranked 11th in the region and finished fifth. It's been a great fall with a bunch of great young ladies. Hopefully we are laying down a great foundation for next year."
Vivas de Lorenzi will compete at the NCAA Championships next Saturday, Nov. 17 in Madison, Wis., hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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