MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Junior Colby Wissel, who won the men's individual Big 12 cross country title last month at Rim Rock Farm, placed eighth at Saturday's NCAA Midwest Regionals in Minneapolis, Minn., which paced Kansas University to a second place team finish and an automatic berth at the Nov. 20 NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Wissel finished the 10k race in a time of 30:59.5 and was also named all-region for the second straight year.

Kansas' top five performers also included junior Paul Hefferon (10th), senior Benson Chesang (14th), senior Erik Sloan (24th) and senior Matt French (32nd).

KU's team score of 88 points was 16 behind that of regional champ Oklahoma State. The second place regional finish was the highest such placing the Jayhawks had earned since doing the same in 1991. They qualify for nationals for a second straight year. In 2006, KU palced 12th, which was its best finish since coming in 10th in 1989.