NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbird cross country teams travel to Lawrence, Kansas to compete in the Midwest Regional Friday, Nov. 13, at the Rim Rock Farm. The women's 6,000-meter is set to start at 12 p.m., while the men's 10,000-meter will follow at 1 p.m.
The Rim Rock Farm Cross Country Course is a unique course, featuring two covered bridges as part of the course, specific hills, turns and other landmarks that are dispersed throughout the course.
The 2015 Regional will feature 32 men's teams and 35 women's teams with a total of 469 student-athletes who will attempt to advance to nationals. Each team declares only seven runners from both men's and women's to compete. The top-two teams in each race and the top-four individuals in each race will automatically move to the next round. There will also be at-large bids for the next 13-fastest teams across the nation, as well as the next two-fastest individuals on both the men's and women's side.
On the women's side, All-MVC and runner-up of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, Ariel Michalek will look to earn her first all-Region honors by placing in the top-25 at the regional meet. In 2014, Michalek finished 27th, just narrowly missing a top-25 spot.
 All-MVC Haley Goers look to be the second finisher for the Redbirds. Goers paced her team to a third-place finish at the Valley Championship. Goers earned her personal-best 6,000-meter this season at the Bradley Classic with a time of 21:06. The women's team will also be paced by Kelly McShea Kimi Sanden, Haley Verbeke, Ashley England and Erica Brown.
The last time a Redbird women earned All-Region honors was in 2012 when Rachael Brewer finished 19th with a time of 21:22.
On the men's side, All-MVC Tyler Morse looks to pace the Redbirds. In 2014, Morse was the second Redbird to finish with a 10,000-meter time of 30:56. Junior Jeff Bajema looks to finish second for the Redbirds. Bajema's personal-best 8K is a time of 24:19 where he earned at the Bradley Classic.
Freshman of the Year, Kyle Mattes will look to make an impact in his first appearance at the Midwest Regional. The men's team will also be paced by Jesse Hahne, Brendan Hoskins, Aidan Askin and Joe Singleton.
Fans can follow along with the action on Twitter via @Redbird_TrackXC, or go to GoRedbird.com for full coverage following the conclusion of the meet.
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