Lynchburg, Va. -- For the first time since Liberty joined the NCAA Division I ranks, the Flames will send multiple runners to the 2008 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Redshirt sophomore Sam Chelanga and redshirt senior Jordan McDougal will both represent Liberty in the men’s 10K national championship race, slated for 12:48 p.m. on Nov. 24, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind.
Chelanga (Nairobi, Kenya) qualified for the national meet for the second time in his collegiate career by finishing first at Saturday’s NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships in Clemmons, N.C. He crossed the line 24 seconds ahead of race runner-up Bobby Mack of N.C. State, with a personal-best 10K time of 29:53.4.
Chelanga, who has won all five of his races during his first season at Liberty, participated in the 2006 NCAA Division I National Cross Country Championships. He garnered All-America recognition with his 16th-place finish and was the race’s fastest freshman finisher.
McDougal (Peru, N.Y.) will be making his first appearance at a NCAA national meet in either cross country or track & field. The senior earned an at-large berth on the strength of his 12th-place finish in Saturday’s race, with a 30:55.8 clocking. A two-time All-Southeast Region cross country performer, McDougal nearly qualified for the national meet last season, when he placed 16th at the regional championship. He is the younger brother of 2007 NCAA Division I National Cross Country Champion Josh McDougal.
Liberty is one of seven men’s teams which will send multiple individuals to Terre Haute. The other schools on the list include Dartmouth, Dayton, Lamar, Princeton, Syracuse and UTEP.
The men’s 10K race will be the second race of the day at the 2008 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. The women’s 6K championship will begin at 12:08 p.m. Both races will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports Network and streamed online via NCAA.com.
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McDougals
03:58, 18 November 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
Does anyone know what happened to big brother Josh? He was preparing for the trials last spring and developed a leg problem. He is a great talent but I have not heard anything about his progression in running.
