KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
ST. LOUIS, MO. ? The Indiana State men's cross country team will be the favorite to win the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship when the league gathers in Wichita, Kan., for the championship this weekend. The poll of league coaches was released today by the league office.
The Sycamores received six first place votes and 78 points to edge Southern Illinois for the favorites roll. The Salukis garnered three first place votes and 75 points.
Indiana State and Southern Illinois staged one of the best battles in league history during the 2009 championship in Peoria with the Sycamores edging pre-championship favorite SIU to claim the title by just a single point.
The third spot is expected to be a battle between Northern Iowa, Illinois State, and Drake according to the coaches poll. The Panthers were picked third with 55 points but the Redbirds are right behind with 53 points and the Bulldogs garnered 50 points. Bradley was picked sixth with 32 points, Wichita State seventh (28), Evansville eighth (22), and Creighton ninth (12).
The Sycamores return three All-Conference runners who finished in the top 10 a year ago including Jeremiah Vaughan (sixth a year ago), Michael Disher (seventh), and Craig Padgett (10th). Five ISU runners are in the top 20 this season in 8K times with three in the top 10: Disher fourth (24:31.00), Padgett sixth (24:43.00), and Albaro Escalera 10th (24:53.00). Vaughan is 14th (25:05.40) while Dustin Betz is 18th (25:15.00). Andrew Lepkowski is just outside the top 20 with the 21st best time this season (25:20.50).
Wichita State is the pre-championship favorite for the women's championship, receiving eight first place votes and 98 points. Illinois State is not far behind with two first place votes and 91 points. Missouri State was selected third (80), Bradley fourth (62), and Drake fifth (56). Indiana State was sixth (49) followed by Southern Illinois (45), Northern Iowa (36), Evansville (20), and Creighton (13).
The Sycamores will be led by returning All-Conference selection Allison Malone who finished seventh at the 2009 MVC Championship. Three ISU runners are in the top 25 in 5K times for the Valley this season led by Malone who has the 15th best time (18:22.00). Kacie Klem has the 17th best time (18:28.00) while Jessica Zangmeister has the 24th best time (18:41.00).
The 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship will be held on Saturday at RAFT Golf Course in Augusta, Kan., and hosted by Wichita State University.
