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Last Updated: Sep 11th, 2009 - 13:30:44 |
WARRENSBURG, Mo. --
The defending MIAA men's cross country champion SBU Bearcats begin
their 2009 season Friday at the University of Central Missouri Mule Run.
The Bearcats return nine of their top ten runners of a year ago, plus they also have 2007 All-American Michael Pierce back from injury. It's a senior-laden group for head coach Corey McElhaney, including Shawn Etzenhouser, Jeremy Glassmaker, Michael McCampbell, Josh Rollins, Cameron Ayers, and David Hackney along with sophomore Will Hansen. The SBU men are ranked 20th nationally in the USTFCCCA preseason rankings and are second in the South Central region behind Abilene Christian.
McElhaney, the 2008 MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, looks for a tough test in the initial meet. "The top four teams picked in the preseason poll (SBU, Missouri Southern, Pitt State and UCM) will run along with many other regional schools," said McElhaney. "We'll hold back a little and work on race strategy. We don't want to peak too soon and hope to get better as the season goes on. Our goal is win the conference again and make nationals."
The SBU women also start their season at UCM. The SBU women were picked for third in the MIAA preseason poll and are seventh in the South Central region. Chelsea Strahm, who earned All-MIAA in 2008, Rebecca Brigance, Kristen Colon and Christine Pierce are some of the top runners back for the Bearcats. "It will be interesting to see who steps up," said McElhaney. "It's great to see them run for real, especially the freshmen. We hope to make the top three in the MIAA and top five in regionals."
The SBU women will start at 5:55 p.m. Friday with the men beginning at 6:45 p.m. at UCM’s Keth Memorial Golf Course, located in Pertle Springs Park, one mile south of UCM’s main campus.
© Copyright 2007-2009 Southwest Baptist University
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