Montana State Harriers at Big Sky Championships
10/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country
The women’s 5-kilometer race will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s 8-kilometer event at 11:45.
Northern Arizona is the favorite in both the men’s and women’s races.
NAU’s men squad is ranked No. 2 in the country, behind the strong efforts of Lopez Lomong, one of the top distance runners in the nation. The Lumberjack women’s squad is ranked No. 20. Both NAU teams were picked first in the preseason coaches poll.
The Montana State men’s team, which finished third at last year’s Big Sky meet, is looking to repeat that performance this fall, as well.
“On paper is looks like we’ll be battling Montana for the 3-4 spots,” said MSU head coach Dale Kennedy. “Eastern Washington and Idaho State are also scary teams that could finish in the top three.”
The Bobcats will rely on sophomore Nick Atwood, who has paced the team in all three meets this season.
“Nick is our frontrunner and he’s coming off an excellent race at the Pre-Nationals,” Kennedy said. “It will be tough with Northern Arizona and Weber State, but we hope that he can come out of the meet with an all-conference performance.”
MSU will also look to Graydon Curry and Matt Adams to round out its top three.
Bobcat senior Elisabeth Driscoll will be shooting for an unprecedented fourth straight All-Big Sky Conference performance. The Bozeman native, who finished fifth last fall, could become the first MSU women’s cross country runner to place among the league’s top ten for four consecutive years.
“Elisabeth is also coming off a solid race at Pre-Nationals,” Kennedy said. “In terms of getting all-conference honors, it won’t be easy.”
According to Kennedy, the Bobcat women will be in a fight for the fourth spot with Eastern Washington and Idaho State.
“We’ll need our 3-5 kids to have break-through performances,” Kennedy said. “Fortunately for us, we have some kids in the program that have a history of saving their best for last.”
Carrie Gottschalk and Kayla Larson should run in MSU’s top three on Saturday.
Northern Arizona is the favorite in both the men’s and women’s races.
NAU’s men squad is ranked No. 2 in the country, behind the strong efforts of Lopez Lomong, one of the top distance runners in the nation. The Lumberjack women’s squad is ranked No. 20. Both NAU teams were picked first in the preseason coaches poll.
The Montana State men’s team, which finished third at last year’s Big Sky meet, is looking to repeat that performance this fall, as well.
“On paper is looks like we’ll be battling Montana for the 3-4 spots,” said MSU head coach Dale Kennedy. “Eastern Washington and Idaho State are also scary teams that could finish in the top three.”
The Bobcats will rely on sophomore Nick Atwood, who has paced the team in all three meets this season.
“Nick is our frontrunner and he’s coming off an excellent race at the Pre-Nationals,” Kennedy said. “It will be tough with Northern Arizona and Weber State, but we hope that he can come out of the meet with an all-conference performance.”
MSU will also look to Graydon Curry and Matt Adams to round out its top three.
Bobcat senior Elisabeth Driscoll will be shooting for an unprecedented fourth straight All-Big Sky Conference performance. The Bozeman native, who finished fifth last fall, could become the first MSU women’s cross country runner to place among the league’s top ten for four consecutive years.
“Elisabeth is also coming off a solid race at Pre-Nationals,” Kennedy said. “In terms of getting all-conference honors, it won’t be easy.”
According to Kennedy, the Bobcat women will be in a fight for the fourth spot with Eastern Washington and Idaho State.
“We’ll need our 3-5 kids to have break-through performances,” Kennedy said. “Fortunately for us, we have some kids in the program that have a history of saving their best for last.”
Carrie Gottschalk and Kayla Larson should run in MSU’s top three on Saturday.
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