Sept. 7, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri Cross Country team begins the 2006 campaign Saturday, Sept. 9, when they host the Missouri Cross Country Challenge on A.L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia, beginning at 8 a.m. (CT).

The Tigers welcome Wichita State to the college/open races. The men will run an 8K race, beginning at 10 a.m. (CT) and the women will run a 5K slated for a 10:40 a.m. (CT) start. The Challenge also includes six high school races. A complete schedule is posted below.

Both the Mizzou men's and women's teams won the team title in 2005. Tim Ross (Alto, Mich.) claimed the men's title for the third time in his career and Wichita State's Desiraye Osburn finished first in the women's race. Tiger senior Amanda Bales (Bettendorf, Iowa) won the race in 2003.

The Tiger women are coming off a productive 2005 season. They finished fourth in the Big 12 Championships and seventh in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. Assistant Coach Rebecca Wilmes expects a lot from the members of the women's team.

"I think we have the potential to be a very good team," Wilmes said. "We don't have just two or three girls that we're hoping will get good. We have eight."

Other runners on the women's team include juniors Maddie Schueler, Kate Greer, Kasey Kimball and Carolyn Rauen; sophomores Summer Owens, Angela Potrykus, Ellen Ries and Mallory VanNess along with redshirt freshman Amber Warren.

The men bring back senior captain Tim Ross for his final campaign. The Tigers finished fifth in the Big 12 Championships and sixth in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in 2005.

Young Tigers expected to step-up for the men include juniors Billy Bell and Colten Green; sophomores Garrett Jeffries, Tim Cornell and Michael Barrows as well as freshman Dan Hedgecock.

After the meet, the Tiger men will have two weeks to prepare for the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn. Saturday, Sept. 23. The next race for the women's team is the Notre Dame Invitational Friday, Sept. 29.

Schedule of Races

8 am - Freshman HS Boys (2 miles) 8:30am - Freshman HS Girls (2 miles) 9 am - Junior Varsity HS Boys (5k) 9:30am - Junior Varsity HS Girls (5k) 10 am - College/Open Men (8k) 10:40am - College/Open Women (5k) 11:15am - Varsity HS Boys (5k) 11:45am - Varsity HS Girls (5k)

Course: Rolling hills and grass, the course line is painted, the footing is excellent, the course will be demanding, there is a common start and finish area.

Past Results:

Men's Winner Women's Winner 2005 Tim Ross (MU) Desiraye Osburn (Wichita State) 2004 Tim Ross (MU) Jill Peterson (MU) 2003 Jason Bill (Illinois) Amanda Bales (MU) 2002 Tim Ross (MU) Valerie Lauver (MU) 2001 Cancelled after September 11 2000 Adam MacDowell (MU) Kerry Hils (MU) 1999 Adam MacDowell (MU) Ann-Marie Crooks (MU) 1998 Adam MacDowell (MU) Sarah Korir (McKendree) 1997 Mike Pitts (MU) Erin Windler (MU) 1996 Ray Hughes (MU) Kristen Allen (MU) 1995 Ray Hughes (MU) Kristen Allen (MU) 1994 Chad Williamson (MU) Trisha Allen (Drake)