November 13, 1998

COLUMBIA, MO. -

The Missouri Cross-Country team will compete in the most important meet of the year at the NCAA Midwest Regionals on Saturday in Wichita, Kan.

Both teams are coming off 3rd place finishes at the Big 12 Championships on Oct. 31, and are hoping to use this race as a spring board for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in Lawrence, Kan.

At stake are automatic berths to the NCAA Championships for the top two teams from each of the nine regions. Thirteen at-large bids will be sent out to the remaining teams that do not qualify automatically.

A total of 30 individuals whose schools don't qualify as teams will also advance to compete.

The men, ranked 16th in the nation, are seeded second behind 9th ranked Oklahoma State.

" We have had a great year, nobody can take that away," Pigg said, "three teams are probably going to go to nationals from our region and there is no reason why that shouldn't be us."

At last years Midwest Regionals, Nick Smith finished 17th overall as the Tigers finished 5th.

The 30th ranked women, who are seeded third behind Kansas State(15) and Minnesota(17), are coming off their best meet of the year as they suprised the conference by finishing third at the Big 12 championships on Oct. 31 in Lincoln, Neb.

"Finishing third at the Big XII's was a big confidence builder for them," Pigg said, "they now know that they are capable of qualifying for the national meet."

TIGER NOTES: The men will be looking to avenge two losses this year to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys edged the Tigers at the Kansas Invitational on Sept. 12 and at the Big 12 Championships on Oct. 31.

Sophomores Katie Meyer and Justa Dahl finished 6th and 12th respectively at last year's Midwest Regional.