CSM CROSS COUNTRY COMPETES AT REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

VERMILLION, S.D. - The Colorado School of Mines men's and women's cross country teams were in action Saturday morning at the 2004 NCAA Division II North Central Regional Meet hosted by the University of South Dakota.

The women's team missed out on a spot to nationals by one place as it was sixth of 24 squads, while the men's team also missed out by one place as it was seventh of 20 teams.

CSM sophomore Larry McDaris (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer) did earn a trip to nationals as he was one of two individuals to qualify from the 14 other men's teams that did not qualify. He finished the course in 32:35 to place 19th overall.

McDaris is slated to run at the 2004 NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships on Nov. 20 in Evansville, Ind.

The men's squad tallied 195 points, just 11 behind sixth-place Minnesota-Duluth for the final spot at nationals from the North Central Region. Sophomore Joel Hamilton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) was 22nd overall in 32:34, while sophomore Michael Rooney (Arlington, Va./Gonzaga) was 27th in 32:45.

The CSM women totaled 216 points, 27 points behind fifth-place North Dakota and a trip to nationals. Junior Hannah Davey (Evergreen, Colo./Evergreen) led the Mines women with a 16th place finish in 22:39, while junior Heather Beresford (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer) was 28th in 23:18.

Western State won the men's title with 32 points, while Kelly Christiansen of Western was the individual champion in 30:33. Adams State claimed the women's championship with 20 points, while Stephanie Bylander of ASC was the individual winner (20:39).

-- OREDIGGERS --