SBU prepares for MIAA Cross Country Championships at Emporia State
SBU men's squad look to defend 2008 MIAA title
Justin Wollard, Media Relations Director
10/23/2009 11:47:27 AM
EMPORIA, Kan. -- The SBU cross country teams will run Saturday at the MIAA Cross Country Championships, hosted by Emporia State University at Jones Park. The women's 6K begins at 10:30 a.m. with the men running an 8K at 11:15 a.m.
The Bearcat men have a strong senior class, led by Michael Pierce, Shawn Etzenhouser, Jeremy Glassmaker and Michael McCampbell. At their most recent event with a full squad, the Bearcats placed first at the Roy Griak Invitational with Pierce leading the way with a first place finish. The Bearcats were the 2008 MIAA champions, behind top ten finishes from Etzenhouser, Glassmaker and McCampbell which earned them All-MIAA honors. Pierce (an All-American in 2007) missed last season due to injury, but has returned to form in 2009, earning MIAA Runner of the Week two weeks in a row earlier this year.
"We have a good shot at winning the event, but this will be the toughest race we've had since these guys have been here," said head coach Corey McElhaney. "The guys have looked really good these past few weeks." McElhaney was named 2008 MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year after leading the Bearcats to the 2008 championship.
"I think our team has gotten stronger," added McElhaney. "But at the same time, our conference has also gotten that much stronger. There will be four or five teams fighting for the number one spot."
In the most recent USTFCCCA Division II national rankings, the MIAA is well represented with four teams in the top twenty. Central Missouri is 12th, Missouri Southern is 13th, Pittsburg State is 19th and the Bearcats are 20th. The South Central Regional poll is also filled with MIAA squads, with the same top four placing first, second, fifth and sixth, respectively. Truman, Emporia State and Northwest Missouri are also eight through ten in the regional rankings.
The SBU women also have several seniors leading the way. Kristen Colon, Christine Pierce, Chelsea Strahm and Andrea Owensby, along with junior Rebecca Brigance, have been the top runners for McElhaney this season at SBU. "Our goal is place in the top half," said the head coach. "Our women have also ran a lot better recently."
Former Bearcat Courtney Ayers was the top finisher for SBU in 2008 at the MIAA Championships, taking third with Strahm also earning All-MIAA honors with a tenth place finish.
The NCAA regionals will take place on November 7 in Abilene, Texas, hosted by Abilene Christian University beginning at 10 a.m. The NCAA Cross Country National Championships are at Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind., on November 21, also starting at 10 a.m.