KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. – The Indiana State cross country teams will head back into action on Friday as they compete in the Indiana Intercollegiates which will be run at Purdue University this year. Competition begins at 3:30 p.m. (ET) with the Open Race followed by the women's 5,000 meter race at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and the men's 8,000 meter race at 5:15 p.m. (ET).
“We will be facing a veteran Indiana team, a much improved team from Purdue and a new but very talented team from Butler,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's cross country coach said. “Each of these teams will be very motivated to beat us.”
The Sycamores finished second to Indiana a year ago in a race that was held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute. Purdue was third last year with Butler fourth.
“This has always been a very tough meet for us,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's cross country coach said. “We were fourth behind Indiana, Butler and Purdue. Our top three runners are very strong especially is Allison (Malone) is able to run. What we need is for our depth, which has been lacking the past two weeks, to step it up and run well this weekend.”
Malone will be a race time decision as she is still recovering from a knee injury. She has received treatment this week and has been able to run but Gartland will wait until after warm-ups to make a final decision.
Indiana State was edged by two points in the battle for third place by Butler a year ago with Indiana edging Purdue for the team title.
The Sycamore men will feature basically the same lineup that carried them to the team title at the season opening Evansville Mid-America on Sept. 4 including race winner Albaro Escalera. Also competing will be Michael Disher, Dustin Betz, Andrew Lepkowski, Jeremiah Vaughan, and Brandon Query. Joining the group this week will be Cody Siblisk and Andrew Sullivan. Several other members of the men's team will be competing in the men's open race.
Kacie Klem, who was second at the Evansville Mid-America Opener, and Jessica Zangmeister, who led ISU with a sixth place finish at the Sycamore Pride Invitational, will lead the Indiana State women on Friday. Should Malone be able to compete, the Sycamores will have a formidable trio in the competition. They will be joined by Bethany Scruton, Kylee Thacker, Kelsie Slater, Val Burs, Ashley Name, and Andrea Prusz in the women's race. Several other members of the team will run in the women's open race including Alexa McFadden, Lindy Jones, Kristy Twitchell, Shelbi Sands, and Hanna Mercer.
The Indiana Intercollegiates is open to any Indiana college or university. Indiana State has won the men's title five times including three straight from 2005-2007. The Sycamore women have won two titles, both coming back to back in 1993 and 1994.
