Utah Cross Country Team Advances to NCAA Championships for Seventh Time
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Utah’s cross-country team has secured its spot in the upcoming NCAA Championships for the seventh time in program history and the third consecutive year. The announcement was made during the NCAA.com Selection Show on Saturday.
Ranked ninth nationally, the Utes received an at-large berth after placing fourth at the NCAA Mountain Regional held on November 15. This regional is known for its competitive field, featuring five teams ranked in the top 30, including No. 1 BYU and No. 4 Northern Arizona. The Utes have successfully qualified for the NCAA Championships six times as an at-large team since their inception in 2015. Notably, the 2022 team achieved the best finish in program history, placing 12th.
Key returning athletes include All-Americans McKaylie Caesar, Anna Peters, and Morgan Jensen, who played vital roles in last year’s finish of 13th at the Championships. Emerging talent is also present this season with Erin Vringer leading the Utes in all major races, supported by experienced transfers Lindsey Peters and Emily Chaston, and true freshman Marika Couture.
This championship marks Jensen’s third consecutive participation and Chaston’s fourth overall, with Vringer bringing her experience from the record-setting 2022 team. A. Peters returns for her second consecutive championship, seeking to replicate her All-America success from the previous year.
Fans can catch the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships live on ESPNU from the Zimmer Championship Course on Saturday, November 23, starting at 8:20 a.m. MST. For updates on the team, follow Utah Cross Country on their official social media pages and the Utah Athletics mobile app.
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Photo credit utahutes.com
