Nov. 8, 2012

BERKELEY - The California men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the NCAA West Regionals at Jefferson Golf Course in Seattle, Wash. this Friday, Nov. 9. The women's 6,000-meter race will begin at noon, followed by the men's 10,000-meter race at 1:50 p.m. The University of Washington will serve as the host of the event.

More than 30 men's and women's programs, including every top squad in the West, will be on hand to compete for a berth in the NCAA Championships on Nov. 17.

Seniors Simon Schmidt, Renaud Poizat will be joined by junior Agustin Alva, sophomores Chris Walden, Jordan Locklear, and freshmen Matt Carpowich and Leland Later in Seattle.

Carpowich paced the Bears in the Pac-12 Championships two weeks ago, finishing the 8000-meter race in 24:26.

Sophomore Kelsey Santisteban, leads the women's squad into the regionals. Fellow Bears Hillary Hayes, Elisa Karhu, Laura O'Neill, Mariel Mendoza, Ashlyn Dadkhah and Xochitl Navarette will also represent Cal in Friday's NCAA regionals.

Santisteban is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Pac-12 Championships two weeks ago where she completed the 6000-meter race in 20:30.

The Cal men and women each placed fifth in last season's NCAA Regionals, held at Stanford.

Walden and Schmidt will be competing in their second-straight NCAA Regionals for the men. Walden placed 34th overall last season, running the race in 30:14, while Schmidt finished 83rd with a time of 31:07 for the 10,000 meters.

Santisteban and Karhu will be racing in their second-straight NCAA Regionals. Karhu recorded a time of 21:12, while Santisteban clocked a time of 22:12 for the 6000-meters.

For results of Friday's competition, click here.

The NCAA Championships will be held at E.P. `Tom' Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 17.