BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ? In a preseason vote of head cross country coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s and women’s cross country squads were picked as the favorites for the 2008 season. Last season both EKU programs claimed championships, with the women winning for the 22nd time in history and the men claiming its 16th crown.
On the men’s side, Eastern Kentucky (81 points, 9 first-place votes) was followed by Morehead State (64 points, 1 first-place vote), Eastern Illinois (59) and Jacksonville State (59), Southeast Missouri State (56), Austin Peay (44), Tennessee Tech (34), Murray State (25), UT Martin (18) and Tennessee State (10) in the polling.
On the women’s side, Eastern Kentucky (81 points, 9 first-place votes) was followed by Murray State (68 points, 1 first-place vote), Eastern Illinois (56), Southeast Missouri State (51), Jacksonville State (45) and Tennessee Tech (45), Austin Peay (43), Morehead State (31), Tennessee State (15) and UT Martin (13).
The 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held November 1 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. with Southeast Missouri State University serving as the host.
MEN’S PREVIEW
Eastern Kentucky was the overwhelming favorite to claim its 17th men’s crown, as the Colonels received nine of 10 first-place votes. EKU won its second straight title a year ago as Coach Rick Erdmann picked up Coach of the Year honors for the 36th time (combined men and women) in his career. Eastern Kentucky did lose four-time OVC Champion and multiple All-American Jacob Korir to graduation, but does return second place finisher Joseph Maina, who finished 113th at the NCAA Championship Meet last December. The team also returns Elkana Kurgat and Christopher Rengifo, who finished seventh and 11th respectively at the OVC Championship.
The other first place vote went to Morehead State, who finished third at last year’s championship. The Eagles return junior Ron Duncan (4th), sophomore Josh Wakeman (12th) and senior Ryan Hudson (14th) who each finished in the Top 15 at the championship last season.
Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State finished in a tie for third place in the preseason poll. Eastern Illinois, the 2005 OVC Champions, were fifth a season ago and led by freshmen Brad LaRocque and Ryan Hoklas, who were 15th and 16th at the meet. Jacksonville State was the runner-up in 2007, as the Gamecocks placed three runners in the top eight finishers at the championship. Leading the team this year will be sophomore Marius Sava, who was fifth at the meet last year as he earned OVC Freshman of the Year honors.
Southeast Missouri State finished fourth at the OVC Championship in 2007 and this season brings back a pair of runners who were on the All-OVC second-team after finishing in the Top 10 at the championship. Those harriers are senior Brandon Karcher (who placed 9th) and sophomore Brandon Funderburk (who was 10th).
Austin Peay, who finished seventh last season, was picked sixth this year. The Governors top returner is senior Tim Hall, who was 22nd last year at the OVC Championship.
Tennessee Tech, who finished eighth last season was picked seventh in the preseason poll. They were followed by Murray State, who was ninth a season ago. UT Martin and Tennessee State round out the preseason poll.
2008 OVC MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (9 first-place votes) 81
2. Morehead State (1) 64
3. Eastern Illinois 59
Jacksonville State 59
5. Southeast Missouri State 56
6. Austin Peay 44
7. Tennessee Tech 34
8. Murray State 25
9. UT Martin 18
10. Tennessee State 10
(Teams awarded 9 points for a first-place vote, 8 for second, etc.)
Top 10 Men’s Cross Country Returnees
(Based on Finish at 2007 OVC Championship)
Runner Yr. 2006 Finish (Time)
Joseph Maina, Eastern Kentucky Sr. 2nd (25:10.53)
Ron Duncan, Morehead State Jr. 4th (25:25.11)
Marius Sava, Jacksonville State So. 5th (25:39.14)
Elkana Kurgat, Eastern Kentucky Jr. 7th (25:42.92)
Jeff Rhodes, Jacksonville State Sr. 8th (25:43.94)
Brandon Karcher, Southeast Missouri Sr. 9th (25:48.93)
Brandon Funderburk, Southeast Missouri So. 10th (25:54.32)
Christopher Rengifo, Eastern Kentucky Sr. 11th (25:55.47)
Josh Wakeman, Morehead State So. 12th (25:57.05)
Ryan Hudson, Morehead State Sr. 14th (25:58.56)
WOMEN’S PREVIEW
After winning its second straight OVC Championship in 2007, Eastern Kentucky was tabbed as the preseason favorite in 2008, receiving nine of the 10 first-place votes. Last season the team put five runners in the Top 16 overall and this season the squad returns two of those runners, including senior Alli McMaster (4th in 2007) and senior Barbara Phelan (8th in 2007) will look to lead the Colonels to the program’s 23rd championship in November.
Murray State garnered the other first-place vote and were tabbed second in the poll. The Racers finished fourth at the OVC Championship a season ago and will be led by junior Taylor Crawford, who finished 14th at the championship in 2007.
Eastern Illinois, who last claimed an OVC Championship in 2001, was tabbed third after a fifth place finish a year ago. The Panthers had two runners ? Erin O’Grady (15th) and Caitlin Napoleoni (16th) ? who are among the top 10 returning finishers from a season ago.
Southeast Missouri State, the third place finisher from 2007, was tabbed fourth. The Redhawks are led by senior Juli Koenegstein, who had a seventh place finish last season. That marked the second straight year she placed in the Top 10, as she finished eighth in 2006.
Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech finished in a tie for fifth in the preseason poll. Tennessee Tech finished sixth a season ago and are led by senior Stephanie Place, the third place finisher at last year’s OVC Championship. The Golden Eagles also return senior Keri Coulthard who was ninth a season ago. JSU finished one place behind Tech last season, finishing seventh at the championship. The Gamecocks will be led by senior Sarah Caine, who was 26th at last year’s meet.
Austin Peay was tabbed seventh, just two points behind JSU and TTU. The Lady Govs have senior Bertha Castillio returning; she finished in 10th place at last year’s championship.
Morehead State was picked eighth and followed by Tennessee State in ninth and UT Martin in 10th.
2008 OVC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (9 first-place votes) 81
2. Murray State (1) 68
3. Eastern Illinois 56
4. Southeast Missouri State 51
5. Jacksonville State 45
Tennessee Tech 45
7. Austin Peay 43
8. Morehead State 31
9. Tennessee State 15
10. UT Martin 13
(Teams awarded 9 points for a first-place vote, 8 for second, etc.)
Top 10 Women’s Cross Country Returnees
(Based on Finish at 2007 OVC Championship)
Runner Yr. 2007 Finish (Time)
Stephanie Place, Tennessee Tech Sr. 3rd (18:21.04)
Alli McMaster, Eastern Kentucky Sr. 4th (18:35.59)
Juli Koenegstein, Southeast Missouri Sr. 7th (18:41.89)
Barbara Phelan, Eastern Kentucky Sr. 8th (18:48.21)
Keri Coulthard, Tennessee Tech Sr. 9th (18:49.81)
Bertha Castillio, Austin Peay Sr. 10th (18:50.87)
Taylor Crawford, Murray State Jr. 14th (19:17.52)
Erin O’Grady, Eastern Illinois Jr. 15th (19:18.55)
Caitlin Napoleoni, Eastern Illinois Fr. 18th (19:30.74)