Nov. 15, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia's Jennifer Owens (Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle) and Bobby Thiele (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville) were both extended invitations to the NCAA Cross Country Championships to be held in Bloomington, Indiana on Monday, November 22.

Owens finished eighth overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional in a time of 17:29 as she paced the Cavaliers to a sixth-place team finish. She was extended one of two at-large bids from across the country.

Thiele qualified automatically for the championships as his 12th place finish was one of the top four individuals whose teams did not qualify for the race. Thiele's finish helped the Cavalier men finish in seventh place, just two points out of fifth place. In 1998, Thiele competed in the NCAA Championships and finished in 62nd place.