University of Tennessee Athletics
XC CENTRAL: NCAA Championships
November 20, 2014 | Track & Field
Tennessee: Austin Whitelaw
Season Thus Far: Whitelaw qualified for his first-ever trip to the NCAA Cross Country Championships last week with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA South Region Championships. He traversed the 10K course in a career-best time of 30:24.30 to earn All-Region accolades for the second straight year. Prior to his strong performance at the Regional, the senior placed 11th at the SEC Championships. That effort earned him second-team All-SEC recognition. Whitelaw has consistently paced the Tennessee men this season, coming in as the team's top finisher in four of six races to this point, including each of the last three. He has also notched career-best times in each of his last three races.
About This Event: Whitelaw's qualification to the NCAA Championships marks the third consecutive season that UT has sent a men's individual to the event. His inclusion alongside Chelsea Blaase marks the first time since 2005 that a representative from both the Tennessee men's and women's teams have qualified for the Championships. Hosted by Indiana State University, the NCAA Cross Country Championships return to Terre Haute, Indiana, for the 10th time in the last 12 years. The men's 10K race begins at 1 p.m. ET, following the women's 6K event at 12 p.m. Both races will be held at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course, cited by many as the top cross country course in the nation. Colorado, ranked first in the USTFCCA poll, is the defending national champion and sophomore Edward Cheserek of Oregon claimed last season's individual title with a 10K time of 29:41.1.
Other Teams Competing: Thirty-one schools and 38 individuals qualified for the Championships. The SEC representatives on the men's side include two teams and three individuals. No. 21 Arkansas and No. 24 Ole Miss each qualified automatically. For a look at all the teams and individuals competing on Saturday, click here.
Tennessee: Chelsea Blaase
Season Thus Far: After missing out on an NCAA Championship berth by a heartbreaking two seconds at the 2013 NCAA South Regional, Blaase left no doubt in the 2014 edition. The junior surged through the 6K course to post a personal-best time of 19:26.20 and finish runner-up, securing her spot in Terre Haute with her second consecutive All-Region performance. It was the third time that Blaase had snared a runner-up finish during this junior campaign in which she has finished no worse than third in each of UT's six races. Prior to the South Regional, Blaase came in third at the SEC Championships with a time of 19:32.37, posting that performance on the heels of her second career collegiate victory at the Crimson Classic on Oct. 4.
About This Event: In qualifying for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, Blaase became the first Tennessee women's runner since 2011 to punch her ticket to the national championship meet. She will take place in the women's 6K race which starts the day at 12 p.m. ET. The race will take place at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course for the 10th time in the last 12 years and will feature a field of 255 athletes. Blaase is one of 38 individuals to have qualified for the Championships. Defending national champion Providence returns to the event ranked 23rd in the latest USTFCCCA poll. Michigan State currently owns the top spot. Abbey D'Agostino of Dartmouth clocked in at a time of 20:00.3 to win the individual title in her final collegiate cross country race.
Other Teams Competing: Blaase is one of five individuals from the SEC to have qualified for the Championships. Two schools from the conference, No. 4 Arkansas and No. 12 Vanderbilt, earned berths as teams. For a look at all the women's teams and individuals competing on Saturday, click here.
Coach Sullivan on the 2014 NCAA Championships: "We're very excited to have both Austin and Chelsea to represent our program this season. Both of them have recovered well from the regional meet and are feeling very good. This is the most competitive race of the year and it's really about them keeping their heads and making sure they position well and put themselves in a spot to have a great day. I think it's kind of simple that way. We're really hoping to come away from nationals with some great results and some well-deserved results and Chelsea and Austin are in a position to do so."
Players Mentioned
