Cougars set for NCAA Championships

PROVO, Utah—Looking to cap off a stellar season, BYU men’s cross country heads to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Championships on Saturday for the 15th consecutive year.

“Our team is coming together at the right time,” head coach Ed Eyestone said. “I think we are in a good position to get on the podium (top four). We know what we need to do individually and as a team. We have our sights set very high.”

The Cougars dropped to No. 8 in the national rankings after taking fourth in last weekend’s Mountain Region Championships. Jared Ward, an All-American in 2012, took fourth at the Mountain Region Championships – his first race back since having his final year of eligibility reinstated by the NCAA.

“We did just enough at regionals to get in the right position for nationals with fresh legs,” Eyestone said. “It is definitely nice to have Jared back. That is clearly a big lift for us.”

BYU is also led by individual WCC conference champion Jason Witt and 2012 All-American Tylor Thatcher. Steve Flint, Jonathan Nelson, Thomas Gruenewald and Spencer Gardner have all been consistent contributors for the Cougars and will battle for scoring spots at nationals.

Winners of four of six races this season, the 2013 Cougars boast a WCC Championship and a second-place finish at the nationally-loaded Wisconsin Adidas invitational on their resume.

The men’s NCAA Championship race will begin at noon EST and will be streamed live on NCAA.com.