North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Cross Country Earns NCAA At-Large Bid
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
RALEIGH, N.C. With an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships precluded by a third-place finish at Saturday’s Southeast Regionals, the NC State men’s cross country team spent the remainder of Saturday and most of Sunday waiting to hear from the NCAA about at-large bids.On Sunday evening, the Wolfpack got the good news. NC State will participate in the NCAA Championships on November 24 as an at-large entry.
William & Mary and Virginia finished first and second at the Southeast Regionals in a photo finish. The Tribe totaled 66 points to the Cavaliers’ 67. NC State was third with 111 points. The Wolfpack’s Bobby Mack (2nd place, 30:17.8) and John Martinez (8th, 30:32.7) earned all-region honors by virtue of top 25 individual finishes.
The NCAA uses a complicated formula weighing various criteria to determine at-large bids. NC State finished ahead of various teams in different races over the course of the season, including Florida State (at the ACC Championships) and Oklahoma State (at the NCAA Pre-Nationals). Florida State finished a close third at the NCAA South Regional, and Oklahoma State won the Midwest Regional to earn an automatic bid to the national championship race.
This year’s at-large bid marks the 13th time in the last 14 years, and the 16th time in the last 18 years, that the NC State men have advanced as a team to the NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack has seven top 10 finishes in that time, and has had 17 runners earn All-America honors.
William & Mary and Virginia finished first and second at the Southeast Regionals in a photo finish. The Tribe totaled 66 points to the Cavaliers’ 67. NC State was third with 111 points. The Wolfpack’s Bobby Mack (2nd place, 30:17.8) and John Martinez (8th, 30:32.7) earned all-region honors by virtue of top 25 individual finishes.
The NCAA uses a complicated formula weighing various criteria to determine at-large bids. NC State finished ahead of various teams in different races over the course of the season, including Florida State (at the ACC Championships) and Oklahoma State (at the NCAA Pre-Nationals). Florida State finished a close third at the NCAA South Regional, and Oklahoma State won the Midwest Regional to earn an automatic bid to the national championship race.
This year’s at-large bid marks the 13th time in the last 14 years, and the 16th time in the last 18 years, that the NC State men have advanced as a team to the NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack has seven top 10 finishes in that time, and has had 17 runners earn All-America honors.
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