Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s cross country team has qualified as an at-large bid into the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division II Cross Country Championships.
This will be the women’s team’s fifth national championship appearance and will be the first time since 2005 that the event is hosted in California.
Head coach Chris Bradford believes the women’s team can make a statement returning to the national championship after a year hiatus.
The women’s team did not qualify for the national championships in 2018; however, the team qualified in 2017 and placed 16th.
“The girls have put in a lot of work all year and they absolutely deserve this opportunity,” Bradford said. “I think the sky is the limit for this group. We have the opportunity to have multiple girls contend for All-American status (placing in the top 40), and I think that can put us in a great position as a team; so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Leading the Broncos at the NCAA Regional Championship on Nov. 9, sophomore Luz Garcia placed 13th and earned All-Region honors by placing in the top 25.
Garcia gave her all at the regional race and was filled with emotions after crossing the finish line.
“I remember when I crossed the line and I waited for my other girls to cross and then I literally started crying at the finish line,” Garcia said. “It was a nice moment just because we knew that we were in a good spot. And then later on when coach told us on Monday afternoon (that we qualified for nationals), we just ended up calling each other and crying.”
Garcia wants to make the most of her first trip to nationals with her team.
“For me personally, I definitely want to tackle on possibly getting All-American and I think that it’s definitely doable, especially with this last performance,” Garcia said.
The National Championship will be held at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento on Nov. 23.
