Three Big West individual athletes are headed to the NCAA Cross Country Championships next Monday as Cal Poly's Joe Gatel and UC Santa Barbara's Scott Smith and Crystal Reed qualified for the national meet.

Indiana State University will host the Championships, November 23, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Indiana.  The men’s race will begin at approximately 12:08 p.m. Eastern time, followed by the women’s race at approximately 12:58 p.m.  Both championship races will be broadcast live on Versus Network and streamed online via NCAA.com.

All three runners were automatic qualifiers after running solid races at the NCAA West Regional. Smith was the top finisher among all Big West competitors on the men's side as he finished the 10k course in 30:42.60. Gatel gained access to the meet after he completed his 10K soujourn in 31:09.25, good for 15th place. Reed was lone Big West qualifier from the women's side as the Gaucho finished up the 8K race in 21:18.95.

The trio of qualifiers also received All-Region status for their performances at the meet.