Nov. 9, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
After a disappointing finish at the 2006 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships, the Illinois State women's and men's cross country teams will look to rebound when they compete at the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional, held Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on the campus of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.
Head coach Jeff Bovee is familiar with the course, and feels that the Redbirds will have the opportunity to gain real cross country experience on the traditional, rolling hills style of course.
"I have had some experience coaching at the Les Bolstad course," said Bovee. "It is a slower type of course, with up and down running through rolling hills. It is not a rhythm course, so we have to focus and concentrate. It is a grinder, but a true cross country style of course."
The women's team will be sending four competitors to the meet, which will be the second time that the women's squad will run a 6K course this season. Fresh off her 21st place finish at the Valley championships, sophomore Kathleen Thompson joins sophomore Stacey Turilli, sophomore Kim Smudde, and freshman Kim Ebbesen in the field. The `Birds will not be scored as a team, due to injuries to senior Betsy McDonald and junior Suzy Turner, who will not compete and will rest in preparation of the upcoming track and field season.
"Going into this race, our main objective for the women's team is to compete hard," said Bovee. "Since they are such a young group, I want them to take some risks and chances and not worry about the team score. We are getting experience and it's a valuable opportunity to grow as a group. We will have some depth next year and this race will provide leaders for the upcoming season."
Sophomore Mike Richardson leads the men's team in the men's 10K race in Minneapolis. Richardson will be joined by freshmen Jordan Anderson and Scott Krapf, senior Bronco Meeks, sophomore Brian Syring and junior Brian Glaza.
"I expect the men's team to bounce back after their performance at the Valley championships," Bovee said. "I want them to get up in the race and compete. It will be their first time running a 10K race, especially with such a young group. It will be interesting to see how we do because I feel the Valley race was not a good reflection of what we are capable of doing."
Comprising one quarter of the Midwest Regional field, seven Valley men's teams and eight women's teams will be in action this weekend. The women's 6K race begins at 11 a.m., with the men's 10K race following at 12:15 p.m
