NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championship
Saturday, November 23 | 12 p.m.
LaVern Gibson Championship Course | Terre Haute, Ind.
MEET INFORMATION
WHAT TO KNOW
• For the first time in program history, Babson will have two athletes competing in the NCAA Division III Cross County Championships in the same year.
• Graduate student
Anthony Rodriguez will make his third appearance at the national meet (2021, 2022) while senior
Julian Ivarra will compete at nationals for the first time in his career.
• The LaVern Gibson Championship Course is a 250-acre complex specifically designed for the sole purpose of cross country running. The Course is the proud host of 15 national championships.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
• Rodriguez and Ivarra were two of seven runners selected for at-large berths from the East Region after Tufts was among the 22 schools to earn at-large team bids.
• Rodriguez earned his spot in the nationals after placing a career-best 10th place at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 25:03, last Saturday in Henniker, N.H., and Ivarra punched his ticket with a 13th place finish at regionals in a time of 25:15.
• The Babson duo were two of the region's top seven finishers from non-qualifying teams to receive an invitation to the national championship, and will be two of the 294 harriers set to compete in the 8k men's race.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
• Rodriguez was the first men's runner in program history to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in 2021, and ran a time of 25:10, the fourth-fastest time in program history, to place 165th at the Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.
• Rodriguez returned to NCAA nationals in 2022 ran a time of 26:25 to place 164th on a snowy course at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.
• Babson Hall of Famer Marina Capalbo '15 qualified for NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship twice placing 132nd in her debut in 2013 and coming in 92nd in 2014.
ALL-REGION HONORS
• Rodriguez earned his fourth straight NCAA All-East Region honor by virtue of his 10th place finish at last week's regional meet, while Ivarra was honored for the second time with his 13th place finish.
• Rodriguez, Ivarra and first-year
Nick Yacoub received all-region honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), giving the Beavers three all-region performers for the first time in program history.
• Yacoub helped the Beavers make history as the first rookie to claim all-region honors, recording his third fastest time of the season (25:53) on the way to finishing in 32nd position.
A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS
• Rodriguez became a four-time All-Conference selection after finishing runner-up at the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships on November 2. He also placed sixth at the D3 Pre-Nationals on the LaVern Gibson Course in Terre Haute on October 4 and took second place at the Connecticut College Blue race on October 19.
• Ivarra, who has also been honored on several All-Academic Teams, earned his first All-Conference honor with a fifth-place finish at the NEWMAC Championships on November 2. He also placed 74th at the D3 Pre-Nationals on the LaVern Gibson Course in Terre Haute on October 4 and took 57th place at the Connecticut College Blue race on October 19.
• Rodriguez set the program record with an 8K time of 24:11 at the Connecticut College race this year and owns the top eight and 13 of the top 17 times in program history.
• Ivarra ran a career-best 25:06 at the NEWMAC Championships, which ranks tied for ninth all-time in program history, and his 25:15 last weekend and 25:20 at Connecticut College rank in the top 17 in program history.
ON THE SIDELINE
• The Beavers are led by 21st-year head coach
Russ Brennen, who has guided the program to 14 All-Region and 17 All-Conference awards.
• Coach Brennen has led the Beavers to four top 10 finishes at the regionals and has qualified two men and one woman to the NCAA Division III Championships.
