By Jacob Most
Nov. 22, 2013 –
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Kentucky cross country senior Cally Macumber will return to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. ET on Indiana State’s Wabash Family Sports Center.
The meet will be broadcast streaming live on NCAA.com, and live results will also be available.
Macumber earned an automatic bid to the 6,000-meter NCAA Championship by finishing second individually at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships last Friday. In the Regional race Macumber made up a 15-meter gap within the final 50 meters, passing two runners in the process.
“We talked after the SEC Championships, and she didn’t do what we thought was her best and we talked about being a champion and finding a way to becoming that champion, one that people talk about,” head coach Edrick Floreal said. “She is making strides to become that. She is becoming aware of her abilities.
“She’s aware, and everyone else is aware. People are building their strategies based off of her, and that’s a sign of respect. You also have to embrace that and convince them that this plan won’t work, I can adjust too.”
Macumber finished sixth at the National Championship meet last season, and earned All-America honors in the process. Only the race-favorite — Dartmouth’s Abbey D’Agastino — finished higher (tied for second) than Macumber last year.
With the result last Saturday, Macumber was named to the All-Southeast Region Team for the second straight season. She was also named All-SEC for the second consecutive campaign earlier this month.
“I need to keep focused and not think about (expectations) too much,” Macumber said. “I have to treat it as just another race and I have to make sure I stay composed and do the best I can. I definitely feel like I’m representing our team, and I want to represent us well. I’m going to try and finish as high up as possible.”
Macumber has already seen the NCAA Championship course, having covered it during October’s Pre-National Invitational.
The top 40 individual finishers will earn All-America honors. Macumber is a senior in cross country, has exhausted her eligibility indoors and will be a senior for the outdoor track and field season.
