Murray State University Athletics
Kiesler Announces 2020-21 Cross Country and Track & Field Schedules
1/11/2021 1:42:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
The Racers 2020-21 schedule is highlighted by the MSU Open and the Margaret Simmons Invite
Murray State's head coach of track & field and cross country, Adam Kiesler, has announced the men's and women's cross country and women's track & field schedule for the program's 2020-21 campaign.
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"We are very excited about our schedule for cross country and the indoor and outdoor track seasons," Kiesler noted. "All three sports will have the ability to compete against some great competition at some great venues/courses."Â
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CROSS COUNTRY
The spring slate features three regular season meets, beginning Jan. 24 in Nashville at the Belmont Opener.
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Two weeks later, the Racers host the 2021 Murray State Open on Friday, Feb. 5 at the Miller Memorial Golf Course.
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MSU will then wrap up its regular cross country season Friday, Feb. 19 at the Tennessee Tech Open in Cookeville, Tennessee.
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Murray State will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee, as Austin Peay is set to host the 2020-21 OVC Cross Country Championships.
Last season, the Racer men tabbed their best conference finish (6th) since 2015 while the women's team placed 8th at the OVC Championships. Â
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Murray State opens their indoor season in Pittsburg, Kansas at the Boo Rogers Combine Events on Jan. 15.
The Thundering Herd Invite (Jan. 30) will mark the first of two dates in Huntington, W.V. during the indoor season with the Racers returning two weeks later for the Marshall Invite (Feb. 13).
Due to timing and structural challenges associated with the Indoor Track and Field Championships, the OVC Council of Directors of Athletics recommended, and the OVC Board of Presidents supported, not holding a conference championship in the sport this year.
"It is unfortunate that we won't have an Indoor OVC Championship, but I thank Mr. [Kevin] Saal and Mr. [Matt] Kelly for allowing us to compete during the indoor season at a few regular season meets," said Kiesler.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Murray State will begin its outdoor campaign March 19-20 in Carbondale, Ill. with the Saluki Open.
The following weekend, the Racers host their annual Margaret Simmons Invite at the Marshall Gage Track, March 26-27.
Turning the calendar to April, the Racers travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri for SEMO's Joey Haines Invite (April 2-3).
After a two-week break from competition, Murray State heads to Vanderbilt for the Vandy Black and Gold Invite (April 16-17) and then travels to Memphis for the Memphis Invite (April 30-May 1).
Postseason outdoor track & field begins May 13-15 as the OVC heads to Charleston, Ill. for the outdoor conference championships. NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers will take place at North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. May 27-29, while the NCAA Outdoor Championships return to Eugene, Oregon for the first time since 2018 (June 9-12).
"Our student-athletes have prepared for this through all the ups and downs and they look forward seeing where they stack up against other competition," said Kiesler. "The highlight of the schedule will be hosting our second annual Racer Open during cross country and our annual Margaret Simmons Invite in the Spring."
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"We are very excited about our schedule for cross country and the indoor and outdoor track seasons," Kiesler noted. "All three sports will have the ability to compete against some great competition at some great venues/courses."Â
Â
CROSS COUNTRY
The spring slate features three regular season meets, beginning Jan. 24 in Nashville at the Belmont Opener.
Â
Two weeks later, the Racers host the 2021 Murray State Open on Friday, Feb. 5 at the Miller Memorial Golf Course.
Â
MSU will then wrap up its regular cross country season Friday, Feb. 19 at the Tennessee Tech Open in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Â
Murray State will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee, as Austin Peay is set to host the 2020-21 OVC Cross Country Championships.
Last season, the Racer men tabbed their best conference finish (6th) since 2015 while the women's team placed 8th at the OVC Championships. Â
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Murray State opens their indoor season in Pittsburg, Kansas at the Boo Rogers Combine Events on Jan. 15.
The Thundering Herd Invite (Jan. 30) will mark the first of two dates in Huntington, W.V. during the indoor season with the Racers returning two weeks later for the Marshall Invite (Feb. 13).
Due to timing and structural challenges associated with the Indoor Track and Field Championships, the OVC Council of Directors of Athletics recommended, and the OVC Board of Presidents supported, not holding a conference championship in the sport this year.
"It is unfortunate that we won't have an Indoor OVC Championship, but I thank Mr. [Kevin] Saal and Mr. [Matt] Kelly for allowing us to compete during the indoor season at a few regular season meets," said Kiesler.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Murray State will begin its outdoor campaign March 19-20 in Carbondale, Ill. with the Saluki Open.
The following weekend, the Racers host their annual Margaret Simmons Invite at the Marshall Gage Track, March 26-27.
Turning the calendar to April, the Racers travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri for SEMO's Joey Haines Invite (April 2-3).
After a two-week break from competition, Murray State heads to Vanderbilt for the Vandy Black and Gold Invite (April 16-17) and then travels to Memphis for the Memphis Invite (April 30-May 1).
Postseason outdoor track & field begins May 13-15 as the OVC heads to Charleston, Ill. for the outdoor conference championships. NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers will take place at North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. May 27-29, while the NCAA Outdoor Championships return to Eugene, Oregon for the first time since 2018 (June 9-12).
"Our student-athletes have prepared for this through all the ups and downs and they look forward seeing where they stack up against other competition," said Kiesler. "The highlight of the schedule will be hosting our second annual Racer Open during cross country and our annual Margaret Simmons Invite in the Spring."
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