Cross Country Races To Regionals

Bronchos Competing Saturday For Central Region Title

JOPLIN, Mo. – Central Oklahoma continues the postseason Saturday with the NCAA Central Region Championships at Missouri Southern's Tom Rutledge Course.

The 6k championship race is schedule to begin at 10 a.m.

Seniors Genevieve Young and Kylee Smith will be joined by freshmen Gabija Pukstas, Maya Winterburn, Gianna Weatherspoon, and Tori McIntosh.

UCO has raced in Joplin earlier this season in a 5k event. The Bronchos have raced in two 6k events, earlier in the year in Stillwater and two weeks ago at the MIAA Championships.

Pukstas has led Central in all five races this season. In the two 6k events, she ran in 25:09 (at Oklahoma State) and in 23:51 (MIAA).

The senior duo of Young and Smith have been close all season. In Stillwater, Young finished in 26:59 with Smith right behind her at 27:02. In Pittsburg two weeks ago, Young was second in 26:14 and Smith third in 26:37.

Winterburn clocked 6k times of 27:38 and 26:53, McIntosh recorded times of 30:50 and 29:55, and Weatherspoon 30:02 and 30:44 this season.

The top three teams from each region will advance to nationals and 10 more at-large selections will join them for a total of 34 teams at the national championship. The top two individuals from each regional not on an advancing team, plus eight more at-large selections will also qualify for the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championships Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

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Players Mentioned

Kylee Smith: 5' 1"; Senior

Maya Winterburn: 5' 4"; Freshman

Gianna Weatherspoon: 5' 3"; Freshman

Gabija Pukstas: 5' 7"; Freshman

Genevieve Young: 5' 3"; Senior

Tori McIntosh: 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kylee Smith
: 5' 1"; Senior

Maya Winterburn
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Gianna Weatherspoon
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Gabija Pukstas
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Genevieve Young
: 5' 3"; Senior

Tori McIntosh
: 5' 5"; Freshman