COLUMBIA, Mo. - After a long summer of training, the men and women of Mizzou Cross Country are ready to kick off their 2015 season this week, as they travel to Champaign, Ill., for the Illini Challenge on Friday. There, the men will match up against Illinois in a dual competition, while the women will take the line against both Illinois and Northern Illinois.
Events at the Arboretum will start at 6:30 p.m. with the women's 5000m run. The men's 6000m will follow at 7 p.m.
Among those lacing up for Friday's competition are six of the newest additions to the women's team: Elly DeTurris, Emmie Hahn, Kelli Jackson, Kate Smith, Hannah Thomas, and Carolyn White. For DeTurris and Hahn, this debut meet in the black and gold also marks a return to their home state. DeTurris is a native of Naperville, Ill., while Hahn grew up in Homer Glen, Ill. Joining them in the field is redshirt-freshman Ellyn Atkinson, who is also making her Tiger debut for the cross country season, junior Kayla Friesen, sophomore Valeska Halamicek, sophomore Bailey Hession, and sophomore Bianca Mello.
Highlighting the men's roster is junior Will Crocker, who is coming off of a stellar track & field season, ending with an All-SEC finish and NCAA West Preliminary Round qualification in the 1500m run. A trio of fellow-mid-distance specialists will join him on the course with sophomore Ben Goodman, redshirt-freshman Mark Sheridan, and sophomore Cain Winebrenner. Rounding out the seven competitors on the men's side are sophomore Brian Hernan, junior Tim Johnson, and redshirt-freshman Patrick Kearns.
TIGERS' STARTING LINE - WOMEN
Ellyn Atkinson
Elly DeTurris
Kayla Friesen
Emmie Hahn
Valeska Halamicek
Bailey Hession
Kelli Jackson
Bianca Mello
Kate Smith
Hannah Thomas
Carolyn White
TIGERS' STARTING LINE - MEN
Will Crocker
Ben Goodman
Brian Hernan
Tim Johnson
Patrick Kearns
Mark Sheridan
Cain Winebrenner
HEAR FROM COACH BURNS
"We are looking forward to opening up the season at Illinois on Friday. The team has enjoyed a great summer and early fall of training, and is ready to get things rolling. This weekend is meant to give some of the younger runners a chance to see how things work at this level and knock the dust off the spikes. It is most likely going to be pretty hot and humid, so it will be a controlled effort early. We will turn them loose later in the race and see how many spots they can gain over the last half of the race. We will hold out a mix of our top runners this weekend, and will open up the complete squad next week at the Forest Park XC Festival in St. Louis."
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