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wednesday, September 3, 2003
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cross country starts year with Timmons Invitational
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The men's and women's cross country teams will open up their season this Saturday when they host the Bimmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm.
While both teams hope to reclaim their titles as meet champions, assistant coach Doug Clark said this meet is an opportunity to see where both squads are at right now, but that they aren't going to take any chances.
Clark said some of the women, including Angela Pichardo, freshman runner, and last year's meet champion, distance runner junior Laura Lavoie, would not be running because of injuries.
"We have some people who are banged up a bit," Clark said.
Coach Stanley Redwine said this meet was the perfect situation for someone to step up and prove themselves.
"I think we know we know what to expect from the upperclassmen. We are hoping that they've gotten better since last year." Redwine said. "I also think it will be a great opportunity for our young people to have the opportunity to race."
opportunity Benson Chesang, sophomore runner, is one of those young people. Chesang, the Big 12 outdoor track 10, 000-meter champion will have the opportunity to race the course for the first time on Saturday.
"I just want to go out and have a good run and really work the hills," he said. "I think it will be a good race for the team."
Andy Samuelson/Kansan
For runners like D.J. Hilding, sophomore runner, who has ran the course since his freshmen year at Lawrence High School, this meet is all about gauging his fitness level.
"My goal for this meet was the same as it was last year, just to improve upon last year's race," Hilding said. "I just want to place higher and finish faster."
Paige Higgins, juniorrunner, and Megan Manthe, sophomore runner, share similar goals for their race. Both said they are using the race to see how well they prepared over the summer.
Redwine said competing at home is something both teams take very seriously.
"I want to see where I am individually." Manthe said. It'll give us a good opportunity to see where the team is at."
"We're at home. The home crowd gets to see us race," he said. "So all those things combined make it an exciting time for cross country right now."
Kansas' Dan Ferguson splashed through a water obstacle during the 3,000 meter steeple chase April 19 at the 2003 Kansas Relays. Ferguson, Medicine Lodge junior, and the Kansas cross country team will compete Saturday at the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm.
"Rim Rock is one of the toughest courses in the nation," he said. "It always helps to hear your friends and family cheering you on as you come up some of those hills."
Chris Jones, freshman/sophomore runner, agreed that running at home could only help the Hawks.
The Jayhawks will compete
against four junior colleges as well as the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Park University, and Haskell Indian Nations University. The women's race starts at 9 a.m. and the men's race follows at 9:45.
Directions to Rim Rock farm can be located online at www.kuathletics.com/crosscountry/rim_rock_map.html.
Edited by Jonathan Reeder