Bainbridge Qualifies for 2024 NCAA Championships

Ali Bainbridge earned one of four qualification spots for the 2024 NCAA Championships, and the Nebraska women’s cross country team placed fifth with 181 points in the 6k at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday. The men’s team finished 17th in the 10k with 470 points. 

Bainbridge is the first Husker to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Erika Freyhof in 2021. Bainbridge and Brynna McQuillen both earned All-Midwest Region honors. The women’s fifth-place team finish is the highest in 15 years.

Bainbridge led NU with a fifth-place finish and time of 19:53.82, and McQuillen finished 19th with a time of 20:21.09. Berlyn Schutz (36th, 20:43.86), Taya Skelton (57th, 20:58.40) and Cami Merickel (64th, 21:05.32) rounded out the scoring for NU. 

Rico Leijenaar finished 39th with a time of 30:26.61 to lead the Husker men’s squad. Trevor Acton was 80th with a time of 31:03.83, and Dennis Chapman (107th, 31:25.09), Max Meyers (116th, 31:35.20) and Liem Chot (139th, 32:03.48) finished out the lineup. 

Oklahoma State finished first in the women’s team competition with 61 points and Minnesota finished second with 76 points. The Cowboys also took first in the men’s team competition, grabbing only 25 points. Iowa State was second with 43. 

Women’s Lineup (6k)
5. Ali Bainbridge (19:53.82)
19. Brynna McQuillen (20:21.09)
36. Berlyn Schutz (20:43.86)
57. Taya Skelton (20:58.40)
64. Cami Merickel (21:05.32)
126. Alea Hardie (21:52.47)
169. Jacquelyn Abanses (22:32.70)

Men’s Lineup (10k)
39. Rico Leijenaar (30:26.61)
80. Trevor Acton (31.03:83)
107. Dennis Chapman (31:25.09)
116. Max Meyers (31:35.20)
139. Liem Chot (32:03.48)
147. Sam Kirchner (32:14.32)
158. Grant Wasserman (32:28.16)