Oct. 28, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou cross country program is in its final stages or preparation before heading to the Big 12 Championships this Saturday at the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course in Stillwater. The meet, which will feature four of the nation's top 30 men's teams and five of the nation's top 30 women's teams, will begin at 10 a.m. with the running of the women's 6K race. The men's 8K championship will follow at 11 a.m.
The top women's and men's team are crowned league champions, while the top 15 individuals in each race earn All-Big 12 honors. The top newcomer in each race will earn Newcomer of the Year accolades. Admission to the event is free to all spectators.
Mizzou chances this weekend will ride on the shoulders on a youthful team, despite being without several of its top runners. Injuries forced the Tiger men, who finished eighth at the 2009 Big 12 Championships, to redshirt several of their top runners this season while the women will be running without their top runner, Kaitie Vanatta (Littleton, Colo.), who is being held out due to an injury.
Despite that, the Mizzou team features a handful of young talent that should help them keep pace with conference elite this weekend. On the women's side, a trio or runners - Bailey Belvis (Prosper, Texas), Kinsey Farren (Dallas, Texas) and Laura Roxberg (Overland Park, Kan.) - have been at or near the top in every meet for the Tigers this season and give Mizzou a solid corps at the top of the lineup.
Mizzou also expects contributions from runners such as Aimee Bonte (Fenton, Mo.), Maggie Priebe (Wassau, Wis.) and Jessica Armstrong (Dorr, Mich.). Marie O'Leary (Normal, Ill.), Esther Vermue (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and Megan Kowalik (Foristell, Mo.) will also run for the Tiger women.
Mizzou finished ninth at the 2009 Big 12 Championships on its home course and Vanatta was named to the All-Big 12 team after placing 11th overall. Texas Tech is the defending champion while Colorado's Allie McLaughlin is the top returner in this year's race as she finished second overall last season.
On the men's side, the Tigers will turn to Max Storms (Kansas City, Mo.) and Kevin McKee (Kansas City, Mo.) to carry to load. Storms and McKee have been the Tigers' top finishers at every meet this season and have teamed to fill the voids left by the injured Phillip King (Columbia, Mo.) and Dan Quigley (St. Louis, Mo.).
Also on the men's side, Pat Donnelly (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Hayden Legg (Mexico, Mo.) will likely bolster a group of young Tiger runners. Middle distance standouts Aaron Dixon (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and Blake Irwin (Bettendorf, Iowa) will also run for the men. Both were NCAA Championship qualifiers in the 800m run during the track season.
Oklahoma State, who is hosting this year's championship, is the defending champion after taking home top honors at AL Gustin Golf Course in 2009. OSU's Colby Lowe is the top returner on the men's side as he finished third overall last season.
Video highlights of the meet will be featured on Big12Sports.com following the meet while a complete Mizzou recap will be featured on MUTigers.com. Also, the Big 12 has developed a hash tag for twitter and fans are encouraged to interact by using #Big12XC on all of their tweets about the meet.
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