The Cyclone cross-country team heads back to Terre Haute, Ind., for one more shot at eminence on the grand stage for collegiate cross country — the NCAA Championships.

This year will mark the first time since 1995 that both the men’s and women’s ISU cross-country teams will head to the NCAA Championships, after last weekend’s impressive performance, in which both teams finished third overall at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet in Springfield, Mo.

Last year, senior Guor Marial finished 38th overall to lead the Cyclones to a 17th-place finish in the meet. As a result, the Sudan native received All-American honors for the 2008 season.

After the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships last season, coach Corey Ihmels is optimistic about the women’s chances this year with the return of seniors Lisa Koll and Grace Kemmey, both of whom are All-Americans.

“I am excited for Lisa and Grace because they both redshirted last year so we could build a good team for this fall, and it has paid off,” Ihmels said in a press release. “Neither of our teams has run their best race yet, which is also exciting.”

This will be the 23rd appearance for the ISU men since 1958. The Cyclone men also won national championships in 1989 and 1994. The ISU women will be making their seventh appearance on the national stage, their first effort as a team since 1996.

The meet will be held Monday, at Terre Haute, Ind.