Alabama Women’s Cross Country Team Selected for NCAA Championships
3/7/2021 12:27:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
It marks the first time the Crimson Tide has advanced to the national championships as a team since 1994
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's cross country team earned a bid to the national championships for the first time in more than 25 years the NCAA announced on Sunday. The Crimson Tide was the first team announced during the NCAA's selection show on Sunday.
With the bid, Alabama will send a squad to the championships, which will be held at Oklahoma State University on the OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Oklahoma on March 15. Alabama earned eight national championship berths between 1978-1994, finishing as high as 6th in 1987 and taking 20th in its last appearance in 1994.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this season has been very different. Typically, the season takes place in the fall, and the NCAA Championships are in November. This season began in the fall and included the Southeastern Conference Championships in October, with the NCAA Championships moving to March.
Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"We are super excited to have earned this opportunity to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Our women had such a great fall and really carried that over into the indoor season and now back into cross country. To earn a spot at these championships, during such a different season, shows the resilience, competitive drive and mental toughness of this team. We're really looking forward to seeing them in action and what they can accomplish in Stillwater."
Strong Season for the Alabama Women
- The Crimson Tide championship contingent includes Mercy Chelangat, Esther Gitahi, Jami Reed, Lauren Brackin, Megan Patton, Riley Schelp, Sophie Spada, Amaris Tyynismaa, Eliza Witherspoon, Leahrose Mami and Allison Wilson
- Alabama finished second at the Southeastern Conference Championships in October, the program's best finish since 1994
- Chelangat won the individual SEC crown with a time of 19:46.5, the fourth in UA history and first since 1993
- Chelangat, Gitahi and Reed all finished in the top six at the SEC Championships and all three earned All-SEC honors
- All five of UA's scorers finished in the top-30 at SECs
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Players Mentioned
