Cross Country

XC: Liberty’s Zealand to Represent CUSA at NCAA Nationals

DALLAS – Liberty’s women’s cross country standout Allie Zealand has qualified for the NCAA Nationals after finishing fifth overall at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships on Friday morning in Earlysville, Va.
 
The sophomore secured her place at nationals with an outstanding 6k time of 19:14.3, nearly two minutes faster than her regional finish last year.
 
Despite Zealand being the only Conference USA athlete to qualify for nationals, CUSA was well represented at the regional level with six athletes earning All-Region honors. At the Mid-Atlantic Regional race in Lehigh, Pa., Delaware’s Marie-Theres Gruber finished 21st with a time of 20:04.80, the best Blue Hen regional finish since 2021.
 
In the south region, four CUSA athletes earned All-Region honors, including Kennesaw State’s Brian Limo (17th place, 30:05.4) and Middle Tennessee’s Jacinto Gaspar (20th place, 30:10.5), Allan Kiplagat (23rd place, 30:16.6) and Brian Kiptoo (25th place, 30:19.4).  With multiple Blue Raiders in the top-25, the men’s squad secured a sixth place team finish.
 
The NCAA Cross Country Nationals will take place next Saturday, Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo. at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. Racing will begin with the men’s 10k at 9:20 a.m. CT, followed by the women’s 6k at 10:10 a.m. CT. Both races will be streamed on ESPNU.
 
2025 NCAA Cross Country Regional Championship Results
 
Women’s Mid-Atlantic Regional
TEAM
15. Delaware – 413 points
 
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
21. Marie-Theres Gruber, Delaware – 20:04.8
 
Women’s Midwest Regional
TEAM
20. Missouri State – 498
 
Men’s Mountain Regional
TEAM
16. NM State – 468 pts
17. UTEP – 489 pts
 
Women’s Mountain Regional
TEAM
15. NM State – 436 pts
 
Men’s South Regional
TEAM
6. Middle Tennessee – 146 pts
12. Kennesaw State – 386 pts
15. Jax State – 401 pts
25. FIU – 698 pts
 
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
17. Brian Limo, Kennesaw State – 30:05.4
20. Jacinto Gaspar, MTSU – 30:10.5
23. Allan Kiplagat, MTSU – 30:16.6
25. Brian Kiptoo, MTSU – 30:19.4
 
Women’s South Regional
TEAM
10. Kennesaw State – 371 pts
12. MTSU – 373 pts
15. Jax State – 432 pts
21. FIU – 596 pts
 
Men’s Southeast Regional
TEAM
13. Liberty – 350 pts
21. WKU – 648 pts
 
Women’s Southeast Regional
TEAM
10. Liberty – 276 pts
 
INDIVIDUAL TOP 25
5. Allie Zealand, Liberty – 19:14.3