Sept. 8, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - On Saturday morning, Missouri will host the 12th annual Missouri Cross Country Challenge at A.L. Gustin Golf Course. Missouri's only home meet of the season will feature the collegiate Tiger harrier squad as well as many of the local high schools in the Columbia area. Scheduled to race along-side the Tigers in the collegiate races are Southwest Missouri State which will become a dual-meet of sorts. High school teams from around the state are slated to be a part of the races including Rock Bridge (Columbia), Helias (Jefferson City), Jefferson City, Fulton, Kickapoo (Springfield), and Lee's Summit West, among others. "SMS will provide a real challenge for our team on the women's side," said Rebecca Wilmes, Associate Head Cross Country Coach. "In the last three or four years, they have been very solid team in the regional championships, finishing fourth last year. It will be a good early season test for our team." The Tiger women's team is coming off the best season in 20 years after a 12th-place national finish in 2003. Eight of the nine letterwinners from last year are returning to the Tiger squad including All-American junior Amanda Bales who finished 23rd as an individual at last years' NCAA Championships. "It's the most excited we've been about our team in years," said Jared Wilmes, Head Cross Country coach. "Being able to add who we have in our newcomers and to be able to return all-but-one from last year will set us up for something good. Last year we set a good foundation and we can't wait to build on that, for both the men's and women's team in 2004." The Tiger men return all-but-one from their 2003 crew and will look to become a force to deal with in the Big 12 Conference. The men were led last year by junior Tim Ross who finished in the top 15 at both the Big 12 Championships and the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. Races start at 8 a.m., with the high school freshmen two-mile races, followed at 9 a.m., with the five-kilometer junior varsity high school races. The Tiger men take to the eight-kilometer course at 10:00 a.m. The women follow at 10:40 a.m., with their 5k race. At 11:15 a.m., the high school teams will run their five-kilometer races, starting with the boys' race, and followed by the girls' race at 11:45 a.m. Admission is free to all races and will start on the fairway of the ninth hole, the side of the golf course nearest the softball stadium and the Audrey Walton Track/Soccer complex.