Friday, November 15
Fayetteville, AR
11:00 a.m. CT
Rice University
vs
NCAA South Central Regional
Photo by: CUSA
Forbes Qualifies for NCAA Championships
11/15/2019 11:54:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Owls place fifth at NCAA South Central Regional
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Grace Forbes became just the second freshman in Rice women's cross country history to qualify for the NCAA Championships by placing sixth overall at Friday's NCAA South Central Regional Championship 6k race, hosted by Arkansas.
As a team the Owls placed fifth overall (180 points) for a second straight year while Arkansas (15 points), Texas (63 points), Texas A&M (106 points) and UTRGV (164 points) finished first-fourth, respectively.
Forbes, from Wallingford, Pa., qualified for the NCAA's by taking the first individual spot not associated with either of the top two qualifying teams (Arkansas and Texas) with a time of 20:48. She joined Marissa Daniels (2004) as the only Owls to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships as freshmen. Forbes, who also earned All-Region honors, remained consistent throughout the race by falling back no further than eighth place at three different splits.
In addition to Forbes, the Owls received an all-region performance from senior Khayla Patel (22nd-21:40) for a second straight year. Rice sophomore Alyssa Balandran (39th-22:19), junior Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi (53rd-22:35), and sophomore Ashley Messineo (61st-22:50) scored the final points for the Owls while Rachel Shoemaker (86th-23:20) and Mary Claire Neal (115th-24:14) also raced.
"What a great race today," Rice head coach Jim Bevan said. "We were able to accomplish our goal of being in the top five and beating numerous teams that had beaten us earlier in the year. Grace qualifying for nationals as a true freshman was big. She's only the second freshman in Rice history to qualify and equaled the sixth place performance of Marissa. In addition, I was extremely proud of the way Alyssa, Lourdes, and Ashley performed with their season best at the end of the year. Khayla was our lone senior and she closed with her highest finish ever at regionals. Rachel and Mary Claire also return next year with our new runners and most of these back home. We're looking forward to next year, but first we have nationals next week!"
Forbes will compete at the NCAA Championships next Saturday, Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State.
-RiceOwls.com-
As a team the Owls placed fifth overall (180 points) for a second straight year while Arkansas (15 points), Texas (63 points), Texas A&M (106 points) and UTRGV (164 points) finished first-fourth, respectively.
Forbes, from Wallingford, Pa., qualified for the NCAA's by taking the first individual spot not associated with either of the top two qualifying teams (Arkansas and Texas) with a time of 20:48. She joined Marissa Daniels (2004) as the only Owls to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships as freshmen. Forbes, who also earned All-Region honors, remained consistent throughout the race by falling back no further than eighth place at three different splits.
In addition to Forbes, the Owls received an all-region performance from senior Khayla Patel (22nd-21:40) for a second straight year. Rice sophomore Alyssa Balandran (39th-22:19), junior Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi (53rd-22:35), and sophomore Ashley Messineo (61st-22:50) scored the final points for the Owls while Rachel Shoemaker (86th-23:20) and Mary Claire Neal (115th-24:14) also raced.
"What a great race today," Rice head coach Jim Bevan said. "We were able to accomplish our goal of being in the top five and beating numerous teams that had beaten us earlier in the year. Grace qualifying for nationals as a true freshman was big. She's only the second freshman in Rice history to qualify and equaled the sixth place performance of Marissa. In addition, I was extremely proud of the way Alyssa, Lourdes, and Ashley performed with their season best at the end of the year. Khayla was our lone senior and she closed with her highest finish ever at regionals. Rachel and Mary Claire also return next year with our new runners and most of these back home. We're looking forward to next year, but first we have nationals next week!"
Forbes will compete at the NCAA Championships next Saturday, Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State.
-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
/ Women's Cross Country
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