Murray State University Athletics
OVC Releases 2011 Cross Country Pre-Season Polls
8/18/2011 11:10:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
The Ohio Valley Conference announced the 2011 men's and women's cross country pre-season poll results Thursday morning, with the Murray State women's team picked to finish fourth overall in the conference with 56 points and the men's squad to place ninth with 22 points.
Eastern Kentucky took the top spot on the women's side, garnering 80 total points and eight first-place votes. Eastern Illinois followed with 74 points and the remaining two first-place votes. Southeast Missouri placed one spot ahead of the Racers with 57 points and Jacksonville State was four points back of MSU with 52 points in fifth. Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, Morehead State and Tennessee State rounded out the bottom half of the women's poll.
Seniors Kayla Crusham, Bridget Stichnot and Jami Kloenne return to lead the 13-person team in 2011.
“I am really excited about this season,” head coach Jenny Severns said. “ Everyone has a few workouts under their belt now and they look great. We have a pack of eight girls that push each other every day and we have never had that before. Our expectations are much higher than 4th place and I expect big things out of this group.”
EKU also took the top spot on the men's poll, winning nine first place votes to finish with 81 total points. Eastern Illinois was awarded the remaining first place vote to finish in second with 71 points. Southern Missouri placed third, six points back with 65 and Austin Peay was fourth with 52 total points. Morehead State placed fifth with 45 points and UT Martin, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State finished within six points of each other in sixth through eighth. Tennessee State rounded out the poll in 10th.
Sophomore Jordan Althoff returns to lead the four-man group of Racers this season.
“We have a very young team but they have been working really hard,” Severns said. “Jordan is really stepping up in a leadership role for us and helping out the new guys. I am really excited to see what is going to happen this season.”
The Racers kick off the season at the Memphis Invite at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. Other meets this season include the SIUE Cross Country Challenge, Greater Louisville Classic, Evansville Championships and the OVC Championships held Oct. 29.
