Nov. 14, 2008

WACO, Texas - The Lamar University men's cross country team, along with women's runner Sandy Castro will be back in action this Saturday, running at the 2008 NCAA South Central Regional Championships. The meet, hosted by Baylor, is set for Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco, Texas.

The meet will begin at 10 a.m. with the women's 6,000-meter race. The men's 10,000-meter run will follow at 10:45. The top 25 individual finishers earn all-region honors, and the top four individuals in each race who are not a part of an advancing team will earn a bid to the NCAA Championships.

The top two teams and four individuals from each of the nine regional championships automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. On Sunday, 13 at-large teams will be added to the national championship field by the NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee. Two additional at-large individuals will round out the field of 255.

The Lamar men, who are ranked third in the region, are led by Southland Conference champion Samuel Kosgei and conference runner up Francis Kasagule who have finished in the top 10 in all of their races this season. Along with the SLC title, Kosgei took first place at the Notre Dame Invitational and second place at the Chile Pepper Festival and at the Baylor Twilight meet. Kasagule was first at Baylor and was ninth at Notre Dame and the Chile Pepper. Kasagule is a two time All American and all region performer, while Kosgei has earned all-region honors two times.

Hillary Samoei and Frank Bwambale have both run well all for the Cardinals season long, earning all-conference honors with sixth and eighth place finishes. Bwambale, a two-time all-region performer, is seeking his third straight all-region finish and Samoei will be running in his first NCAA Division I regional championship after helping Iowa Central Community College to a NJCAA runner up finish a year ago.

Drew Bean, who placed 12th at the SLC meet, has had a solid sophomore season for the Cards. Last year he notched a 37th place finish as Lamar's fourth runner at the regional.

Rounding out the lineup for the Cardinals will be Randy Becker, Spencer Prudhomme and Jared Rodriguez. All three runners have had strong season for Lamar, and will look to help Lamar earn a berth to the NCAA Championship.

Castro, the Lady Cardinals top runner all season long will be the only LU women's runner to compete in this year's regional.