Nov. 12, 2007

USC freshman Sarah Cocco was an at-large selection to the 2007 NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 19 it was announced on Sunday (Nov. 11).

Cocco, who finished 18th (20:57.25) at the NCAA West Regional in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 10 despite feeling ill and battling a fever, is one of four freshman out of the 38 individual at-large selections which were added to the 31-team field which will be competing for the NCAA Championship in cross country.

"Sarah has really worked hard on her endurance this fall and it has really paid off," said USC cross country coach Tom Walsh who has now guided his fifth runner in the last seven seasons to the NCAA Championships. "Her work ethic has been at a high level. It has been exciting to see her develop in cross country. She has never really focused on it before and it is going to help her for track season."

Cocco is the first freshman and sixth individual Trojan runner to qualify for the NCAA Championship, the last being Iryna Vashchuk in both 2003 and 2004.