Nov. 11, 2007

BERKELEY - For the first time in school history, the California men's cross country team will compete as a team in the NCAA championships. The No. 10 Golden Bears received an at-large bid to the 2007 national meet today.

The Bears finished in the top five in every race this season, including a fourth-place finish at last Saturday's NCAA West Regional and a third-place showing at the Pac-10 championships on Oct. 27.

Three runners have paved the way for Cal to earn its bid to the national championships - senior David Torrence and juniors Mark Matusak and Yosef Ghebray. Ghebray paced Cal in the last two races, while Torrence led Cal at the Stanford Invitational and the Pre-NCAA meet.

The Cal men have had representation individually in the previous two NCAA championships, with Torrence competing in last year's national championship meet.

Indiana State will host the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships Monday, Nov. 19, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The men's race will begin at noon Eastern Time, and will be broadcast live on CSTV.