Sept. 5, 2000

The University of Missouri women's cross country team received 63 votes and is ranked 20th in this week's National Coaches Poll.

The MU women will be anchored in the 2000 season by senior Katie Meyer (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville HS), who recorded top-30 finishes at the Missouri Invitational (18:37.93/third), the Minnesota Invitational (18:14/19th), a season-high at tbe Notre Dame Invitational (17:33/fifth) and the Big 12 Championships (18:07/30th) in 1999.

Juniors Ann Marie Brooks (St. Joseph, Mo./St. Joseph HS) and Kim Moore (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood HS) placed 13th (17:36) and 19th (17:49) respectively at last season's Conference Championships. Both times were season highs. Brooks turned in a first-place time of 18:09.81 at the Missouri Invite while Moore's 19:06.28 was good for a ninth-place finish at that meet.

Sophomore Amy Chipman (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs HS) placed 12th at the Midwest Regional and chalked up a time of 17:35, her best of 1999. She placed second at the Missouri Invite (18:22.35), seventh at Notre Dame (17:37) and 18th at the Conference Championships (17:46). Also providing leadership for the 2000 squad is sophomore Kerry Hils , who recorded a time of 19:31.39 at the MU meet last season and a season-best time of 18:09 at the Big 12 Championships.

The Tigers open the 2000 season at home Sept. 8, in the Missouri Challenge at 5:00 p.m.