Nov. 21, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma cross country runner Kelly Waters heads to Terre Haute, Ind., this Monday, Nov. 24, to compete in the 2008 NCAA National Championship, hosted by Indiana State University. This is the sophomores’ first appearance in the 6,000-meter competition, which takes place at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Family Sports Center.

Waters’ 10th-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Stillwater, Okla., on Nov. 15, helped secure her spot amongst the 38 individuals selected. Waters qualified for the event by being one of the top-four finishers not on an advancing team from regional action after completing the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21 minutes and nine seconds.

Waters is just one of four individuals from the Big 12 Conference to secure an at-large bid from the regional results. Waters defeated two of the three other Big 12 individuals at the 2008 Big 12 Championships en route to her fifth-place finish.

Waters’ advancement marks the fifth time in the last six years that the University of Oklahoma women’s cross country program has been represented at the NCAA National Championships.

Waters looks to become Oklahoma’s seventh runner in program history to garner NCAA All-American status in the event and the first since Jessica Eldridge in 2006. The top-40 finishers in the event earn the honor.

The women’s race will begin at approximately 12:08 p.m. EST. The race will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports Network and streamed online via NCAA.com.

Complete results and a full recap of the Midwest Regional will be available on SoonerSports.com shortly after the events conclusion.