Nov. 17, 2008

Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa's 15th-ranked men's cross country team was chosen as one of 13 at-large teams to participate in the NCAA National Championships as selected by the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee. The Hurricane joins a field of 31 teams that will run on Nov. 24 in Terre Haute, Ind.

"It's nice to be going," Head Coach Steve Gulley said. "However, we planned on being there from the beginning of the season after going last year. I think the guys are running better as the season moves along and we are getting healthy."

Tulsa finished third at the Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 15 behind second-ranked Oklahoma State and 14th-ranked Minnesota, who finished first and second, respectively. The top-two finishers in each region earned an automatic berth to the NCAA National Championships.

The men's team finished ahead of 21st-ranked Iowa State, who was also chosen as an at-large selection to run at the national championships, making a total of four teams selected from the Midwest Region.

It is the second consecutive year that the men's team will run at the NCAA National Championships. The Hurricane finished 29th last season.

Indiana State University will host the championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind. The women's race will begin at 11:08 a.m., followed by the men's race at 11:48 a.m. Both races will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports Network.