In what could be their final team race of the season, the Bobcat runners will compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals race Saturday at the University of Toledo.
The Bobcats have had two weeks to prepare, as they will compete with the best competition in the Great Lakes Region — which consists of all Division I teams in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.
In the most recent regional rankings, the Ohio men’s team were ranked 15th and the women are listed at eighth.
Ohio coach Clay Calkins said he believes these rankings could be good indications of where the teams will finish the race this weekend.
“We are going to face some incredible competition this weekend in the men’s race,” Calkins said. “However, since the race is a 10k instead of the normal 8k, I think we will do better than we are projected, but it will still be a challenge.”
In the men’s race, teams such as nationally top-ranked Wisconsin and No. 7 Indiana will lead the competition. Multiple other Mid-American Conference schools will compete as well.
On the women’s side, Calkins said he thinks the women will have a chance at finishing near the front of the race as they have raced against the majority of their opponents already this season and have placed well.
Racing for the Bobcats will be only the top seven runners for each team, compared to the nine or more runners who compete in a normal race. The positioning for the race is based off the final individual results at the MAC Championships.
“Toledo has a really tough course and isn’t flat at all,” Calkins said. “There are many tough hills that we are going to have to battle, but everyone has to run the same course, and the races will definitely be tactical due to the rough course.”
The top two teams in the Great Lakes regional race will automatically advance to the Nationals race Nov. 21. Other than the top two teams, the top 10 individuals whose teams do not qualify for the NCAA Nationals race will also advance to race in Terre Haute, Ind.
cl027410@ohiou.edu
UP NEXT:
WHAT: NCAA Great Lakes Regionals
WHERE: University of Toledo.
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 12
Women’s race, 11 a.m.
Men’s race, noon
