NCAA Cross Country Championships
GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University’s Jena Peacock will compete at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 21 at 11 a.m. The championships will be held at the Highland Hills Golf Course in Berea, OH.
Peacock (so. Williamstown, NJ/Our Lady of Mercy Academy) qualified for the national championship after finishing second at the NCAA Atlantic Regional with a personal best time of 21:38.4 over the 6K course. She was one of seven individuals that advanced from the regional to the NCAA Championships. At last year’s regional, Peacock placed 25th with a time of 24:12.
“Jena's second place finish at the regional was not a surprise,” said head coach Ringo Adamson. “Jena worked very hard over the summer after she suffered a broken foot last season.”
This year, Peacock finished in the top ten at every race and recorded two first place victories. She won the individual title at the DeSales University Invitational with a time of 22:54.32 and crossed the finish line second at the Colligate Track Conference Championships (21:56.61). She was also eighth at the Paul Short Invitational and sixth at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational with times of 21:53 and 18:13 (5K) respectively.
At the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships, Peacock came in first with a time of 22:03.90. She earned her second straight NJAC All-Conference first team honor and was named the NJAC Runner of the Year. As a freshman, Peacock was selected the NJAC Rookie of the Year.
If her winning ways continue, Peacock has a great chance at earning All-American at the championship meet. The top 35 finishers receive All-America honors. There will be 32 teams and 56 individuals competing on Saturday for a total of 280 runners.
“She has an excellent shot at making All-American,” stated Adamson. “She has the speed and endurance she needs to run a great race.”