Miller’s Sore Knee Holds Key for CSUN Runners at Regional

Ready or not, the Cal State Northridge women’s cross-country team will compete today in the NCAA Region VIII championships at Randolph Golf Course in Tucson, Ariz.

A top-10 finish has been Northridge’s goal since the start of the season, but that seems unlikely because of a nagging knee injury to junior Lori Miller. The top two teams will advance to the NCAA championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on Nov. 21.

Miller was one of Northridge’s top two runners during the first three meets of the season before missing the Arizona State and Cal Poly Pomona invitationals. She was Northridge’s No. 4 runner--finishing ninth overall--in the American West Conference championships Oct. 29, but has been limited to light workouts since.

“If Lori was totally healthy, I think we would definitely be able to achieve our goal,” Northridge Coach Don Strametz said. “But I’m not so sure with the way things are.”

Northridge’s other top runners are freshman Jamie Whitmore and senior Jennifer Andrews. Whitmore finished fourth in the AWC championships and Andrews was seventh.

Senior Brian Godsey, ninth in the AWC championships, will be the lone Northridge competitor in the men’s race. Strametz did not enter a men’s team after a disappointing season.