KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State men's and women's cross country teams will return to Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday for the NCAA South Regionals at John Hunt Park.

The women's 6K will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, followed by the men's 10K at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

This will mark KSU's third meet of the season at John Hunt Park. The Owls previously competed there in the Southern Showcase in September and the Conference USA Championships earlier this month.

How to Punch Your Ticket to Columbia

The goal for all teams competing in Huntsville on Friday is to qualify for the 2025 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Nov. 22 at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.

Team Qualification:
The top two teams at each of the nine regional meets will automatically advance to the national championships. The South Region includes programs from Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Fourteen at-large selections will then complete the 32-team national field for both the men's and women's divisions. At-large selections are determined based on head-to-head success against other national qualifiers during the regular season.

Individual Qualification:
Runners who place in the top 25 at the regional meet earn All-Region recognition and become eligible for advancement to Columbia. The national meet will feature 38 individual competitors not on advancing teams. The top four finishers from each regional who are not on qualifying teams will automatically advance, with two additional at-large individuals added to round out the field.

In summary, the only competitors who will know on Friday that they are bound for Columbia are the top two teams in each race and the first four individual finishers not part of those teams. The complete field of team and individual qualifiers will be announced Saturday at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The Field

Auburn (men); Florida; Georgia; Mississippi State (women); Ole Miss; Tennessee; Vanderbilt; Alabama; North Alabama; Alabama State (women); Austin Peay; Belmont; Chattanooga; ETSU; FIU; Florida Atlantic; Florida Gulf Coast; Florida State; Georgia Southern (women); Georgia Tech; Jacksonville; Jacksonville State; Kennesaw State; Lipscomb; Memphis (men); Mercer; Miami; Middle Tennessee State; Mississippi Valley (men); North Florida; Samford; South Alabama; South Florida; Southern Miss (women); Stetson; Tennessee State (men); Tennessee Tech; Troy (men); UAB (women); UCF (women); and UT Martin.

Women's Team Preview

The Kennesaw State women's team will look to rebound after a fifth-place finish at the Conference USA Championships.

The Owls have been led this season by Madison Seiler and Emma Ferguson. Seiler placed 12th and earned Second Team All-Conference honors, while Ferguson finished 22nd at the CUSA meet.

KSU enters Friday's race ranked No. 11 in a strong South Region that features two nationally ranked teams: No. 3 Florida and No. 13 Alabama.

This will be KSU's 13th appearance at the NCAA South Regionals. The Owls' best finish came in 2023, when they placed 11th.

Men's Team Preview

The KSU men finished fourth at the CUSA Championships.

The Owls were led by Collins Kipkemboi (second place), Brian Limo (third place) and Edwin Kiprono (10th place). All three will look to finish high enough to earn individual bids to the NCAA Championships. The last Owl to qualify for nationals was Nabil Hamid, who advanced in 2011 and 2012.

The South Region men's field remains strong this year, featuring nationally ranked Alabama (No. 9) and Georgia (No. 19), along with Florida State, Georgia Tech, Lipscomb, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Next Up

The Owls will compete again on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the NCAA Championships in Columbia, Missouri, if any qualify. If not, KSU will open its indoor track and field season on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Clemson Opener.