Missouri State sophomore Pasca Cheruiyot finished third at
the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships (6K) today. Cheruiyot ran a time of 20:40.70, finishing
just eight seconds behind the individual winner, Racheal Marchand of Iowa. Her third-place finish qualifies for the NCAA
National Championship in Terre Haute, Ind., on November 24.
Cheruiyot becomes the first Bear to qualify for Nationals
since Casey Owens qualified in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004. Cheruiyot joins Owens in becoming the third
Missouri State runner to finish in the top-10 at the regional
championships. “Pasca ran great today,
she went out quick, a risky strategy with the wind, but that’s her style,” said
Head Coach Greg Hipp following the race.
“She set herself up well for contending at Nationals.”
Freshman Terry Phillips finished in 21st place with a time
of 21:33.25. Phillips and Cheruiyot were
named to the All-Region team, the third time in school history that the Bears
have had multiple All-Region runners.
Phillips becomes just the second freshman to receive All-Region honors.
Senior Jamie Vest’s career culminated with a 27th-place
finish and a time of 21:45.05. Vest just
missed qualifying for the All-Region team.
As a team, the Bears finished eighth with 263 points. In finishing eighth, the Bears once again
defeated conference rival Wichita State (11th), avenging the second-place
finish from the conference meet. The Bears
also defeated the University of Missouri (10th) squad to finish as the top team
in the state of Missouri.
The NCAA will announce Monday, other team and individual
at-large bids to the NCAA National Championship.
Courtesy: MSU Photo Services