Oct. 11, 1999

Pre-Nationals Up Next For MU

The University of Missouri men's cross country team is headed to the Hoosier state for the second time in October on Saturday (Oct. 16) to compete in the Indiana Invitational/Pre-Nationals. The men's 8K race begins at 10:00 a.m.

Competition from across the country will be at the meet since the course is the same one in which the NCAA Championships will be held, November 22, 1999. However, in order for Missouri to earn a birth at nationals, they first have to compete at the Region V Championships on November 13, in Champaign, Ill.

Men Look For Redemption

The Tiger men are coming off their worst performance of the season looking to prove what the team is capable of as a whole.

"After Notre Dame we had to regroup," Pigg said. We have to try and get our feet back under us at Pre-Nationals. If you want to be great you have to compete against great teams. The men can not wait to get back into a meet. Notre Dame left a bad taste in our mouths."

The men finished 6th overall at Notre Dame (Oct. 1). Junior Nick Smith led the MU charge finishing 15th overall in a time of 24:15. The other four Tiger scorers were junior Mike Pitts (35th), junior Greg Speicher (39th), junior Derrick Peterson (53rd) and sophomore Steve Wade (54th).

"We now know a little more about ourselves as a team," said Pigg. "We had our hardest week of practice last week and are going to rest just enough to have a solid performance and gain some confidence back at Pre-Nationals."

In the Polls

The third Cross Country Coaches Association of America poll was released on Tuesday (Oct. 5) with the Missouri men droppin out of the top-25, currently ranked No. 29. The men look to regain a top-25 national ranking with a solid performance in the Hoosier state.