Boston University senior Jochen Dieckfoss was one of two men's individuals to earn an at-large selection to the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Dieckfoss, who finished ninth at the NCAA Northeast Regional Saturday (November 15) at Franklin Park, will compete in the 10K event November 24 at Byrnes Park/Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course in Waterloo, Iowa. Northern Iowa is the host.
A four-time America East Champion, Dieckfoss covered the 10K course at Fanklin Park in 30:29 Saturday. He will be one of 255 men's competitors at the national meet. He finished 44th last year at the NCAA Championships at Terre Haute, Ind.
New Hampshire was the top America East team on both the men's and women's side at the Northeast Regional.
The Wildcat men, led by a 10th place finish from Stephen Meinelt (30:35), were seventh overall with 22 points. Iona won the regional with 58 points. Richard Kiplagat of Iona was the individual champion in 29:50. Other America East teams included Boston University (15th, 405), Albany (17th, 447), Maine (19th, 494), Binghamton (26th, 796) and Vermont (28th, 857).
Lesley Read (21:36) of the New Hampshire women was the top individual for America East with a 13th place finish. She helped lead the Wildcats to a team score of 319, good for eighth overall. Providence won the regional with 49 points. The Friars' Kim Smith (20:23) was the individual champion. Jackie Nunez of Stony Brook (21:44) finished 16th to lead the Seawolves to 373 points and a ninth place finish. Other America East teams included Boston University (12th, 385), Binghamton (17th, 498), Vermont (18th, 525), Maine (19th, 544) and Albany (20th, 559).
The top two teams (Iona and Providence men; Providence and Columbia women) plus the top four individuals who are not members of the team qualifiers receive autmoatic bids to the NCAA Championships. Dieckfoss earned an at-large selection.