PRIMER: NCAA Midwest Regional - Iowa State Athletics

For the first time since 2017, Iowa State cross country hosts the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday morning. The Cyclones enter the meet ranked second (men) and fourth (women) regionally.

NCAA Midwest Regional
Friday, November 13
Women's 6K | 11:00 a.m.
Men's 10K | 12:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
The Cyclones competed at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago in Stillwater, Okla. The ISU men finished fourth in the 8K race and the women were sixth in the 6K team race. Betty Kipkore and Rosemary Longisa earned All-Big 12 honors for the Cyclone women.

The Field at the Midwest Regional

Bradley
Chicago State
Creighton
DePaul
Drake
Eastern Illinois
Illinois
UIC
Illinois State
Iowa
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas City
Kansas State
Lindenwood
Loyola Chicago
Minnesota
Missouri
Missouri State (women only)
Nebraska
North Dakota
North Dakota State
Northern Illinois (women only)
Northern Iowa
Northwestern (women only)
Omaha (women only)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Oral Roberts
Saint Louis
SIUE
South Dakota
South Dakota State
Southeast Missouri State
Southern Illinois
St. Thomas (MN)
Tulsa
Western Illinois
Wichita State

The Course
The Iowa State Cross Country Course has hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional three times prior to Friday's meet. It marks the first time since 2017 that Iowa State will host the regional meet and fourth time in school history (1997, 2013). Iowa State was also the NCAA Championships host in 2000 and has hosted the Big 12 Championships four times (1996, 2008, 2018, 2023).

About the NCAA Regionals

The top two teams for both the men and women at each regional site (18 teams for each gender) will automatically qualify for nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. on November 21. An additional 14 teams are selected at-large to round out a 32-team national field.
The top four individual finishers at each regional site not on qualifying teams also earn automatic bids.
The top 25 individual finishers at each regional earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors.

What to Watch For

The All-American quartet of Robin Kwemoi Bera, Meshack Kimutai, Rodgers Kiplimo and Joash Ruto are expected to lead the Cyclone men against a field that includes fellow nationally-ranked opponents: No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 22 Minnesota, No. 26 Missouri and No. 30 Tulsa.
The men's race distance will make the jump from 8K to 10K on Friday. Historically, Iowa State is known for its ability to favorably run as a pack at the longer distance.
Kipkore and Longisa will be relied upon again to lead the Iowa State women for a chance to help the Cyclones return to the national championship.
The Cyclone women have made a team appearance at two of the last three NCAA Championships.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Robin Kwemoi Bera

Meshack Kimutai

Betty Kipkore

Rodgers Kiplimo

Rosemary Longisa

Joash Ruto

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics