Eight Idaho cross country runners – seven women and one man – are heading to Seattle, Washington, Friday to compete at the NCAA Regional Championship.
On the women’s side, senior Kinsey Gomez, juniors Ally Ginther, Halie Raudenbush, Valerie Mitchell and freshmen Krista Story, McCall Skay and Andrea Condie will compete. Junior Nathan Stark will run on the men’s side for Idaho.
Gomez placed third at the Big Sky Championships Oct. 31 in Cedar City, Utah.
“Two of the best runners in the country are competing in this field and I think Kinsey can run with just about anybody,” Idaho assistant coach Travis Floeck said. “She’s feeling phenomenal and she has a goal of qualifying for the national meet and I think she is more than able to attain that goal.”
Floeck said he expects all the competitors to run well this weekend.
“I expect them to get in there and run with confidence, compete and do their best,” Floeck said. “It’s a pretty good course. It’s a little faster and they can definitely break some personal records.”
Floeck said the team has really improved over the season, but the end of the season has its pros and cons.
“Sometimes you run the risk of being really fatigued at the end of the season,” Floeck said. “But we’re looking really good and well rested.”
Idaho will face tough competition in Seattle, but Floeck said the team’s expectations remain the same as any other meet.
“Majority of the team would love to P.R. (personal record) and are capable of doing it,” Floeck said. “We want them to run with confidence and do their best and I think that some great things can happen for them.”
Mihaela Karst can be reached at [email protected]