Sept. 13, 2005

Columbia, Mo. - Senior Tiger cross country runner Tim Ross (Alto, Mich.) was named this week's Big 12 Runner of the Week after clinching the 8K Missouri Cross Country Challenge title last Saturday at home on the A.L. Gustin Golf Course. This marks the first Big 12 Cross Country Runner of the Week Honor for Ross since joining the program in 2002 and first time a member of the MU men's team has been recognized for the accolade since Mike Pitts in 2001.

Finishing Saturday's race in a time of 35:45.06, Ross bested 40 competitors from Illinois State, Wichita State, Maryville University (St. Louis) and UMKC to earn his second straight Missouri Cross County Challenge title and third of his four-year career.

With the win, Ross became just the second Missouri cross country runner since the creation of the race in 1993 to claim the Missouri Cross Country Challenge title on more than two occasions (2002, 2004, 2005).

The Missouri cross country team will travel to Joplin, Mo., for the Southern Stampede, Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning with the men's 8K race at 9 a.m. on the Missouri Southern Cross Country Course. The women's team, currently ranked 19th in the nation is slated for a 9:45 a.m. start on the 5K course.

Big 12 Runner of the Week-Men
September 7- Jon Von Letscher, Texas
September 13- Tim Ross, Missouri
Big 12 Runner of the Week-Women
September 7-Kayte Tranel, Nebraska
September 13-Brittany Brockman, Baylor