Murray State University Athletics
MSU Cross Country Teams Open Season at Belmont Opener Friday
9/2/2009 1:15:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
Competing with the host Bruins and the Racers will be Alabama, Alabama A&M, UAB, Austin Peay, Cumberland (TN), Lipscomb, MTSU, Tennessee, Union (KY), Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky.
The women's team, which finished second at last year's OVC Championship and was picked first in the OVC preseason poll, is looking to claim its first championship of the season. They have returned several prominent runners including Katelyn Jones, Taylor Crawford, Karissa Magnuson, Jami Kloenne and Asenath Na'Aman.
Jones and Crawford earned first-team All-OVC honors after finishing third and seventh, respectively, at the OVC Championship last season. Magnuson earned second-team All-OVC honors and finished eighth, while being named OVC freshman of the year.
Also returning for the Racers are seniors Kristen Miller and Kristin Reffett, junior Ashley Myszka and sophmores Kayla Crusham and Bridget Stichnot.
The men's team placed eighth in last years OVC championship and open the 2009 season with a seventh place OVC preseason ranking. The men return three seniors: Andrew Beckman, Jack Findley and Andrew Smithson.
The Racers will also look for strong performances from returners Theron Chalepah, Ryan Millard and Andy Pack. The men have added three freshmen as well, two of which earned all-state honors.
