The IU men's cross country team all but guaranteed its NCAA bid with a fifth-place finish in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Saturday at Eastern Michigan University. \nThe Hoosiers finished behind NCAA-favorites Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Butler and Michigan -- who just squeezed IU out of fourth by a scant five points, 111-116, in the NCAA's most challenging region. \nOhio State was a distant sixth with 152 points. \nJunior All-American Sean Jefferson led the charge for the Hoosiers -- finishing second in a time of 30 minutes 13 seconds for the best Regional finish of his career. Twin brother John, hobbled slightly by injury this past week, put on his best race of the season by finishing fifth just twelve seconds later. \nSean Jefferson followed a race script identical to his 2003 breakthrough race -- putting in a big surge at five kilometers that quickly built a 50-meter lead. \n"I made my move and absolutely no one went with me," Sean Jefferson said. "By 6K, I got tired of running by myself so I jogged until a couple of guys caught up and we basically just cruised in together."\nIU had several encouraging signs with the NCAA Championships just nine days away. Along with John Jefferson's weekly improvement, IU used a pair-racing strategy to keep its team members together. Senior Tom Burns finished 31st with junior Eric Redman back in solid form just behind him in 37th. Junior Stephen Haas finished 41st and junior Charlie Koeppen ran his first solid race of the season when it counted -- finishing 47th. \n"With about 2K to go we all basically knew that we were in, so we were able to just cruise in," Redman said. \nWith just one race left, the Hoosiers have put themselves in perfect position to reach their season-long goals of improving over 2003's 12th-place NCAA finish and adding more All-American awards to the program.\n"All the elements are in place for NCAAs," Redman said. "We definitely set things up right this year, stayed relaxed early in the season so we can really focus on the last few meets, and everyone seems to be coming together."\n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.
WOMEN: 4th place finish propels IU into at-large bid \nThe IU women's cross country team finished fourth Saturday at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet, placing high enough likely to make an NCAA meet appearance.\nWhile the Hoosiers didn't place high enough to receive an automatic bid, the team received an at-large bid by the selection committee to be one of the at-large teams to attend the NCAA meet Nov. 22. \nPrior to the race, IU coach Judy Wilson said she thought a decent day would get the Hoosiers a fourth-place finish with four runners placing in the top 30. The team managed to place three runners in the top 30 starting with sophomore Jessica Gall at seventh with a time of 20 minutes and 12 seconds, followed by sophomore Kristin Whitezell at 17th with a time of 20:51 and ending with junior Kelly Siefker, who rounded out the trio by finishing 20th in a time of 20:55.\n"I thought (the) first three did a good job," Wilson said.\nAll three members of the trio were named to the All-Region Team after the race.\nIU's top five runners had what Wilson called a solid performance and were rounded out by sophomore Lindsay Hattendorf in 51st place and senior Larra Overton in 53rd. \nWilson said she was impressed with their performances because both had been struggling with injuries all year.\nSeniors Mindy Peterson and Julie Shields finished off the top seven with Peterson placing 77th and Shields in 97th.\nAfter the Big Ten Championships Oct. 31, the team made up individual plans for each of the runners and began stressing running at peak fitness levels.\n"I think for the most part we followed the plan and got done what we needed to do," Gall said. "We train so we peak at the end of the year, and we're ready to do that."\nBoth Gall and Siefker said they feel like the team has momentum and confidence now.\n"I think coming off of this we have what we need to propel us to a good national meet," Siefker said. \nThe race was won by favored No. 4 Michigan. Michigan's Rebecca Walter was the race's winner finishing in a time of 20:01.\nNotre Dame and Michigan State were the other two teams who placed in front of the Hoosiers, placing second and third respectively.\nThe Big Ten had a strong showing as well, finishing three of its teams in the top five.\nThe No. 27 Hoosiers will run again Nov.22 in Terre Haute at the NCAA Championships. An appearance at the meet this year would make this the third straight year the team has been selected for advancement.\n-- Contact staff writer Andy Romey at
