COLUMBIA, Mo. - After a week break from competition, new Head Coach Marc Burns is taking the Tigers back on the road for their second meet of the season on Friday with the Forest Park XC Festival in St. Louis. The women will take to the course for the 5000-meter run at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men's 6000-meter run at 5:15 p.m.
THE LAST TIME OUT
The Tigers kicked off their season two weeks ago (August 29) in Champaign, Ill., with a dual against the University of Illinois. The women had an excellent debut showing, topping the Fighting Illini 26 - 31. Once again, it was sophomore Kaitlyn Fischer who led the squad with her second-place finish, followed by a pair of freshmen in Jamie Kempfer and Karissa Schweizer.
The men also offered a glimpse of the exciting season they have in store closing only two points behind Illinois, ranked No. 5 in the Midwest, led by the winning effort of junior Tyler Schneider. Junior Kenny Cushing was the second Tiger across the line, closely followed by the squad's lone senior - Sam Dickerson.
THE MEET
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Located in the heart of St. Louis, Forest Park boasts a premier cross country course which was, most recently, the site for the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships. An early-season landmark meet for middle and high schools in the area, the collegiate portion was introduced two years ago and now features 15 teams.
THE TIGERS' SQUAD
This is a return home for a number of the competing Tigers, as 11 of the 47 came to Columbia from the Greater St. Louis area. Included on this list are several Forest Park XC Festival Top five finishers from their high school days, including a pair of 2011 Champions in Kaitlyn Fischer (Pevely) and Sheldon Keence (St. Charles). Fischer also finished third in 2012 and fourth in 2010.
Other top five placers include: Jamie Kempfer (Festus), fourth (2013); Drew White (Crystal City), third (2011) and fourth (2010), and Springfield-native Chris Mooneyham, fourth (2012).
Other local talents who will take to the course on Friday include: Teylar Adelsberger (O'Fallon), Megan Cunningham (Eureka), Kayla Friesen (Chesterfield), Valeska Halamicek (Weldon Spring), Libby Luciani (Kirkwood), Kenny Cushing (Wentzville), and Brian Hernan (Manchester).
| Women | Men | ||
| Teylar Adelsberger, SO Kaelyn Balch, SO Becca Batliner, FR Courtney Brown, SR Megan Cunningham, SO Maria Effinger, JR Kaitlyn Fischer, SO Kayla Friesen, SO Sam Garrett, JR Valeska Halamicek, FR Jamie Kempfer, FR Libby Luciani, SO Bianca Mello, FR Nicole Mello, SO Morgan Nelson, SO Karissa Schweizer, FR Madison Waymire, FR Kayla Wolf, SO Brooke Wolfe, SO Courtney Wood, SR |
T.J. Carey, SO Jordan Cook, SO Will Crocker, SO Kenny Cushing, JR Adam DeSplinter, SO Sam Dickerson, SR Marc Dubrick, FR Chandler Dye, SO Ben Goodman, FR Shannon Hall, SO Brian Hernan, FR Grant Inskeep, SO Cody Johnson, FR Tim Johnson, SO Sheldon Keence, FR Billy Leighton, FR Ian McGinn, SO Joe McKenna, SO Chris Mooneyham, FR Joe Pellegrino, FR Alex Pierce, FR Dan Roe, SO Tyler Rusboldt, SO Tyler Schneider, JR Evan Schulte, FR Drew White, SO Cain Winebrenner, FR |
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