8A the university daily kansan
friday, November 14,2003
sports
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Cross country aims for nationals
Jeff Jacobson/KUAC
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Junior Chris Jones will compete this weekend in Stillwater, Okla., at the Midwest Regional Championships. This is the only meet where teams can automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.
kansan.com
The football team will take on Oklahoma State tomorrow,looking to earn its sixth win and become eligible for a postseason bowlgame.
But it won't be the only Kansas team looking to earn a postseason berth on the Oklahoma State campus.
The Kansas men's and women's cross country teams will compete this weekend in Stillwater, Okla., at the Midwest Regional Championships.
The regional meet, which is comprised of all the Division I schools from Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, is the only meet where teams can automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.
"This meet is what we've trained for the whole season," junior Chris Jones said.
"We want to go to nationals. We know top two is in our reach," he said. "This is more important than nationals right now. We have to run well here to get there."
The Jayhawk men are currently ranked second in the region in the United States Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Oklahoma State, who is hosting the region meet, is ranked first.
The top two teams in each region will receive automatic invitations. A selection committee will then grant teams it feels are qualified to run at nationals an at large bid.
Kansas has already competed on Oklahoma State's course this year at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. Jones said the team's success at that meet would help this weekend.
At the Big 12 Championship meet two weeks ago, the Cowboys finished second with 91 points. The Jayhawks were 44 points behind, finishing fourth.
Jones said the team didn't plan to wait for an at-large bid.
"A lot of other region teams,
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like Minnesota and Iowa, haven't been there. It's going to give us a mental edge being able to run that course through our mind." Jones said. "I feel we can be confident because we've run well there."
The region meet is also the first time the Kansas men will run a 10-kilometer race. The furthest the Hawks have competed this year is 8 kilometers.
Sophomore Cameron Schwehr said the team was prepared for the added distance.
"Coach is training us perfectly for this 10k, everyone knows this is do or die," he said.
Coach Stanley Redwine said the extra 2 kilometers would not be a major factor because every other team was running the longer distance.
"Those other schools are in the same situation we are. Our energy systems and their energy systems' are the same," Redwine said, "Who wants it the most that day is what it's going to come down to."
Junior Megan Manthe said the women had had a hard time competing at the level they know they are canable of.
Although the women's team will run its standard 6-kilometer race. the team still faces adversity.
"As a team, we're looking at this meet as a chance to go in and do the best we can do and end on a good note." Manthe said.
The Jayhawks will be without the senior leadership of Paige Higgins. Higgins, who was the 'Hawks top finisher at last year's region meet has been sidelined for the season because of a hip injury.
The team must now depend on freshmen Laura Major and Jessie Violand to pick up the pace.
The meet begins with the men's 10k at 11 a.m. followed an hour later by the women's 6k. Results will available on Oklahoma State's athletics Web site, www.okstate.com.
Edited by Ashley Marriott
FOOTBALL: 'Hawks try to keep bowl hopes alive
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completing 24-of-34 passes, Barmann was intercepted three times, including a crucial third quarter pick at the Nebraska goal line.
"I don't thing we've been jolted at all." Barmann said. "You know we've played some good teams. The thing about it is, we've done some things that have helped beat ourselves a little bit. We just have to compete with these teams."
Edited by Dave Nobles
BASKETBALL: Defense is key
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and Sharita Smith. Burras, a starter last season, is expected to be out two more weeks with a fractured finger. Washington has not determined a return date for Smith, who continues to heal from a surgery to repair a knee injury suffered while playing a pick-up game this summer.
"We rushed a few things," Kemp said, "But that just comes with our excitement for the first game."
With the opening-game jitters out of the way, Kemp said she expected the team to be more relaxed against St. Louis Goldstar.
Taylor McIntosh, a 5-11 shooting guard from Wichita, signed a national letter-of-intent to play for Kansas next season.
Kansas basketball notes
"When you look at this class, one word comes to mind: winners." Bechard said. "This recruiting class is another significant step as we continue to move Kansas volleyball to national prominence."
Emily Brown, from Baldwin High School, signed her letter of intent yesterday. The 6-foot-2 setter has led her team in kills and assists the past two seasons. She chose Kansas over Big 12 rivals Nebraska and Missouri.
Last year, McIntosh was named first-team All-State and was a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American. She chose Kansas over Nebraska, New Mexico State, UTEP and Michigan.
"She has great size, strength and speed and has a tremendous ability to score and create for her 'cummates,' coach Marian Washington said. "It is always a great thing to be able to sign one of the state's best players."
McIntosh, one of the top prospects in the state of Kansas, led Wichita Heights High School to Kansas 6A state championships in 2002 and 2003. She averaged 14 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Falcons last season and hit the game-winning shot in the state championship game.
Edited by Doyle Murphy
Edited by Joey Berlin
VOLLEYBALL:
Kansas signs
three recruits
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time all-conference, all-district and academic all-state selection
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