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ROCHESTER, NY - Senior
Jouhan Allende (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy) of the RIT women's cross country team was selected to compete at the 2009 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, as the NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee announced the team and individual qualifiers for the 2009 Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, which will be held on Saturday at Highland Hills Golf Course in Highland Hills, Ohio.
Allende was an at-large selection, after finishing 14th out of 239 runners in a time of 22:45.7 over the 6,000 meter course at the NCAA Atlantic Regiona Championships at Letchworth State Park on Saturday.
RIT Head Coach Dave Stevens believes Allende is peaking just in time for nationals.
“I could not be more happy for Jouhan," said Stevens. "She has suffered through several setbacks with injuries in her running career. Her success this season is a true testament to the value of perseverance. Her qualification for the NCAA’s will be a great learning experience for Jouhan, as she looks to lead her entire team here next season.”
The RIT men's cross country team was also selected to compete at the NCAA Championships. It is the second time in four years that the men's squad will compete at nationals.
Thirty-two teams were selected to participate in each championship. The top two, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the eight regions, for a total of 16 teams. Sixteen additional teams were selected at-large.
Fifty-six individuals, the first seven athletes from each region who are not a part of a qualifying team, were selected to participate in each championship.
Baldwin-Wallace College will host the championships at Highland Hills Golf Course in Highland Hills, Ohio. The women’s race will begin at 11 a.m. followed by the men’s race at noon.