Missouri's Gullingsurd Earns Big 12 Honor
10/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 6, 1999
On Wednesday, Oct. 6, the Big 12 Conference announced its men's and women's cross country Athlete-of-the-Week honorees. University of Missouri senior Anna Gullingsurd received the women's award as selected by the conference.
"I am really happy for her," head coach Jeff Pigg said Wednesday. " She has been in Columbia for the last two years training with us and watching us compete and now it is finally her turn to compete for Missouri. All her hard work and dedication the past two years is finally paying off."
At the Addais Notre Dame Invitational on Friday, Oct. 1, Gullingsurd finished second in the 140 competitor race leading the No. 14 Tigers to a second-place overall team finish. It was the senior's highest finish to date as well as marking the first time she was Mizzou's number one runner. She conquered the 5k Notre Dame Golf Course in 18 minutes and 17 seconds. In only her third meet as a Tiger, Gullingsurd has finished in MU's top five all season.
"I am excited for her and how far she has come since coming to Missouri," said Pigg. "No matter who you are, it is hard to train with your teammates and sit at home while they go off to compete. It has only increased her desire. To come back after a two year layoff from competition is great."
Gullingsurd and the rest of the Missouri cross country teams have the weekend off from competition before heading back to the Hoosier state October 16, to compete in the Pre-National meet held in Bloomington, Ind. The Tigers will be competing on the course in which the NCAA Championships will be held on November 22. MU will compete to earn a birth at nationals on November 13 at the Region V Championships in Champaign, Ill.
