NCAA has approved Jared Ward's appeal to compete in cross country

Nov 14, 2013 by FloTrack Staff

The NCAA has approved Jared Ward’s appeal to compete in cross country.

What’s more surprising: that the NCAA said that they were wrong or that the ruling happened the day before the NCAA DI Cross Country Regionals?

According to Doug Robinson of Desert News, the NCAA held a conference call with Ward and BYU officials at 8:00am MT to review his controversial eligibility status. At 11:17am, BYU's director of athletics, Tom Holmoe, announced the verdict via twitter:

NCAA approves Jared Ward's appeal to compete in cross country in this his final year. RUN JARED RUN! Thanks NCAA.
— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) November 14, 2013

The NCAA drew considerable ire after it was announced that Ward lost a season of eligibility after participating in a fun-run in 2009. When Ward enrolled at BYU, he disclosed the race on his NCAA compliance form and lost one season of cross country.

After appealing and being denied twice, BYU had 10 minutes this morning to present its case to the NCAA. Although the NCAA also had 10 minutes to state their argument against Ward, the NCAA apparently swallowed their pride and saw through their misguided judgement. Who knew that this conclusion would be both logical and fair?

"We've had big goals all season long and even when we felt like we exhausted our last appeal to get Ward back, we have that number five standing without him," said Men's Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Ed Eyestone. "Obviously with Ward coming on, I think we're very much in the discussion for a podium team and at least in the conversation for a top three team."

Since Ward’s eligibility has been restored, #5 BYU will have a considerable boost in their run for an NCAA cross country team title.

Based on the results from last year’s NCAA Cross Country Championship (where he finished 14th), Ward is the fifth returner overall (Arizona’s Lawi Lalang is not included due to injury) and the top American.

After he was unable to run cross country this fall, Ward changed his training regimen to prepare for the Chicago Marathon. Ward finished 19th in 2:16:17. However, he did not accept the prize money for his finish because he didn’t want his eligibility to be further affected.

Reports from the BYU camp have stated that after recovering from his marathon debut, Ward has resumed training and is quite fit. ~~No official workouts were given~~.

Eyestone added, "He ran 2:16:16 four weeks ago in Chicago. What I told him is that in '92, I ran my second fastest 10k ever four or five weeks after I made the Olympic Marathon team. He's a little behind the curve in terms of speed development and taper, but his strength is going to be there and that's what cross country in Terre Haute is all about."

According to our current Mountain Regional Projections, the Colorado Buffaloes are projected take the team title with 50 points. Northern Arizona could take second with 53 points and BYU will finish third with 76.

If we include Ward in the results and he finishes third, BYU’s total drops to 57 points and they will take second. Colorado will still win the regional with 55 points and NAU will finish third with 58.

Even though the top two teams in the country may be upset tomorrow at the Mountain Regional, Ward’s inclusion will significantly change the picture at NCAAs next Saturday.

"Ultimately, I think the NCAA showed some consistency and some fairness," Eyestone concluded. With Jared, there's not a higher quality individual around and it's fun to see that good things that come to those who wait. It's a lesson in perseverance."