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Cross country men picked to win MVC Championship; women picked fifth
Oct. 26, 2009
By Megan Kramper St. Louis, Mo. - The Southern Illinois men's cross country was tabbed to win its third straight Missouri Valley Conference Championship in the pre-meet poll announced by the league today. The Salukis captured eight first place votes, with Indiana State receiving one vote as well. Returning for the Salukis are 2008 All-American and MVC champion Jeff Schirmer, who set the course record last year at Missouri State with a 8K finish of 24:18.73. Mohamed Mohamed, who claimed top honors in 2006, Jason Ordway, Kyle Kirchner and Dan Dunbar also lead a team of veterans into this year's race, which will be hosted by Bradley University at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. on Saturday. "We don't put a lot of stock into the pre-meet rankings, its nice that people think we are capable of winning again," Head coach Matt Sparks said. Sparks said the men are preparing better for the meet and won't be overlooking any of its conference opponents going into Saturday's race. The Southern Illinois women were chosen to finish in fifth place with Wichita State leading all first place votes with eight followed by Illinois State, Bradley (1), and Missouri State (1). "I was surprised to see us picked fifth, I think our women are much better than that and right now I think all of those teams are interchangeable in any place and I think we just ended up at the bottom of that" Sparks said. Last season, the Salukis finished in fourth place with Megan Hoelscher leading the Salukis in the 5K race as she finished 12th overall last season with a time of 18:25.51.
A'Seret Dokubo and Emily Toennies also look to improve on their top 20 finishes from a season ago. Sparks said that the fifth place prediction would give the women a boost to prepare themselves this week in practice. "Now I think we've got a little bit of ammunition and a little bit of something to get fired up about," Sparks said. The men's 8K race will kick off the championships on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with the women's race to follow at 11:30 a.m. State Farm MVC Championship Coaches Poll - Men State Farm MVC Championship Coaches Poll - Women |
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