Ohio will head to Madison, Wisc. to try to make a mark on NCAA Regional competition Friday.
The men’s and women’s teams’ top seven finishers from the Mid-American Conference championships are representing the Bobcats in the competition.
Ohio coach Clay Calkins said the Bobcats have never previously run the course on which they will compete. He also mentioned that it is very fast and is a perfect site for the race.
Calkins is hoping for a top 15 finish for the men’s team.
“We have a lot of young guys who have taken leadership positions,” he said. “They are capable of a great meet.”
He has even higher expectations for the women’s squad.
“We’ve been in the solid top 10 all year,” he said. “This meet is a great chance to try to get back at Miami and finish ahead of them. I think seventh, eighth, or ninth would be a great finish for us.”
Calkins is also expecting a solid race from junior Juli Accurso, who finished sixth this past year.
Accurso said she hopes to advance to NCAA Nationals, which are held in Louisville, Ky. next Saturday.
“I have the potential to win the race also, but that is secondary,” she said. “If I feel good Friday, I’ll go for it. If not, my focus will simply be running a strong race to qualify for Nationals.”
Accurso credits much of her preparation from the past few weeks to the support she has received from her teammates and others that have reached out to her.
“The support we get acts as this everlasting energy that fuels me on race day,” she said. “Being aware of the support from the community helps my confidence going into the races.”
ks934011@ohiou.edu
UP NEXT:
NCAA Regionals
Madison, Wisc.
11 a.m. Friday
