Thomas, Mohamed ready for their runs in the NCAA D2 nationals
By Anna Biondolillo | Sports writer
KENOSHA, Wis.—Cross-country season isn’t over yet for the Augusta University Jaguars.
Madison Thomas and Nasrudin Mohamed landed here Kenosha on Wednesday, Nov. 19, for the NCAA Division II cross-country championships. The two runners qualified for the nationals with top-15 performances in the Southeast Regionals two weeks ago at Wingate, N.C. Thomas was 14th in the women’s race, and Mohamed finished 15th in the men’s race.
Upon landing, the two Jaguar runners both were feeling the excitement and reality of where they are.
“If you had told my freshman-year high-school self that I would be at a national cross-country meet, I would not have believed it,” Thomas said.
And as it is her last cross-country season with the AU team and Nasrudin’s second-to-last season, both runners have high hopes for their race on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Wayne E Dannehl National Cross Country Course.
And after running the course to shake out their legs and familiarize themselves with it, anticipation is in the air for everyone.
“I’ve enjoyed running on the course,” Nasrudin said, “but I do recognize it’s not going to be easy going race-pace on with the hills and patches of mud.”
The women’s race begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and the men at 12:15 p.m. The national championship is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
The men’s defending champion is Colorado School of Mines. On the women’s side, the defending champion is Adams State. Wingate, the Southeast Region champion, is the favorite on Saturday on the men’s side. Grand Valley State is the favorite on the women’s side.
The women’s race is 6,000 meters, and the men’s race is 10,000 meters.
Contact Anna Biondolillo at ABIONDOLILLO@augusta.edu.
Madison Thomas (L) and Nasrudin Mohamed cool down after a practice run at the Wayne E Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis. The Jaguars will compete in the NCAA Division II Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22. At the top of the page, Mohamed and Thomas get in a practice run on the championship course. (photos by Anna Biondolillo/the Bell Ringer)
