BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats will open their 2008 cross country season, as the men's and women's teams travel to Warrensburg, Mo., for the Central Missouri Mule Relays.
The SBU men will return five key runners from last season's squad. All-American Michael Pierce is the lone senior. He is joined by juniors Jeremy Glassmaker, Shawn Etzenhouser, Michael McCambell, and Cameron Ayers. Last season, the men finished #2 in the MIAA meet and #4 in the NCAA Division II Regionals, which were held in Joplin. As the 2008 season opens, the men's cross country team has been ranked #4 (South Central Region) in the pre-season Division II Men's Cross Country Regional Rankings. Abilene Christain is ranked #1, followed by Missouri Southern and Pitt State in the #2 and #3 positions.
"Our men look good right now," said SBU's head coach, Corey McElhaney. "They have been having good workouts, and really encouraging each other. I see a lot of team unity. One encouraging thing is the way our freshmen have come in and responded to the workouts."
The SBU women also return five key runners in Courtney Ayers (Jr.), Chelsea Strahm (Jr.), Mallory Roth (Jr.), Erica Whitfield (Jr.), and Kelsi Chowning (So.). Last season, the women finished #3 in the MIAA meet and #6 in the NCAA Division II Regionals. The women's team has been ranked #5 in the pre-season Division II Women's Regional rankings for the South Central Region. The top spot belongs to Abilene Christian, followed by Missouri Southern, Pittsburg State, and Dallas Baptist in the #2, #3, and #4 positions.
"We have a group of freshmen on the women's side, who are fighting for the top spots," continued McElhaney. "Courtney (Ayers) really looks strong right now. Like the men, our women have been having great workouts. I see them encouraging each other and the unity has been good also."
"We're anxious to begin our season."
