Sept. 29, 2005

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri's men's and No. 24 ranked women's cross country teams will compete in the 50th annual Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational, Friday, Sept. 30, at the on-campus Notre Dame Golf Course. Five races will be contested throughout the afternoon, with Missouri's women competing in the 5K Blue Division race at 3:15 p.m. (CT) and the men's five mile Blue Division race set for 4 p.m. (CT).

A total of 58 schools, including 16 ranked among the top-30 in the nation, will be sending either or both of their men's and women's teams to South Bend, Ind. On the women's side, the Tigers will be among 24 schools competing and one of nine ranked programs. Three of Missouri's competitors, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Arkansas are ranked among the top-10 programs in the nation. In last season's outing, the Tigers finished fourth overall with Amanda Bales (Bettendorf, Iowa) crossing the line first for Missouri in 17:01.00. Stanford, who will not be sending either a men's or women's team this year, claimed the 2004 title with two of their runners finishing among the top-five.

On the men's side, 25 teams will vie for the Blue Division team title. Wisconsin enters the meet looking to defend its No. 1 ranking, while teams from No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 7 Arizona are among seven schools ranked among the top-30 in the nation. Missouri senior Matt Noonan (Baldwin City, Kan.) helped the 2004 Tiger team to a 13th place finish with his 30th place showing in 24:20.00.

The Notre Dame Invitational is one of the nation's oldest and largest intercollegiate cross country meets. Started in 1957 by former Irish Head Coach Alex Wilson, the men's race has been run continuously for 50 years with the women's race created in 1987.