JOPLIN, Mo. -- The SBU cross country teams head down I-44 for their second meet of the 2009 season for Saturday's Missouri Southern Stampede. The women start at 9 a.m. with the men following at 9:45 a.m.

Rebecca Brigance

The SBU men are coming off a second place finish at the UCM Mule Run last Friday in Warrensburg. The Bearcats had three runners in the top ten including Michael Pierce, Jeremy Glassmaker and Shawn Etzenhouser). The host Mules edged the Bearcats at the meet and moved ahead of SBU in the USTFCCCA regional rankings (UCM is now second with SBU at third behind Abilene Christian). Both MIAA teams are back-to-back in the national rankings as well, with SBU now up to number 18 and UCM just ahead at #17.

The SBU women took fourth last Friday at the UCM Mule Run. Top finishers were Rebecca Brigance and Chelsea Strahm. SBU remained number seven in the South Central regional rankings. SBU has battled injuries on the women's side and looks to get everyone back to full speed.

The races at Joplin will feature a number of strong teams. "Both races have a lot of nationally ranked squads," said head coach Corey McElhaney. "The men's race will have five teams in the D-II rankings plus Oklahoma, Arkansas and Oral Roberts from the Division I level. We're looking forward to the tough competition."

It's a much longer trip next weekend for the Bearcats, as the cross country teams travel to St. Paul, Minn., for the Roy Griak Invitational. The women's race begins at 9:45 a.m. and the men start at 11:20 a.m.

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