Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Sun Belt Championships
Cross Country Ready for Conference Championships
10/31/2003 2:48:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFRESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee men's and women's cross country teams head to Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday for the 2003 Hardee's Sun Belt Championships at Kereiakes Park.
Heading into this season, head coach Dean Hayes believed the Blue Raiders had the potential to be one of the top teams in the conference. That potential has been beaten back by injuries, however.
Tarik Thabet was counted on to be the team's No. 2 runner, but has been out all but three days with an ankle injury. The one certainty on the team was senior Geoffrey Lagat, who won the SBC individual championship in 2000 and 2001 and finished second last year. Lagat had his strongest off-season to date over the summer, but a toe injury may keep the senior out of Saturday's meet. Even if he runs, Lagat won't be at full strength.
"Injuries have just killed us," Hayes said. "So with our top guys out, we're left with freshmen who have never run before."
Freshman David Hughes knows a thing or two about championship meets, having won the Class A-AA championship last year as a senior at Happy Valley High School. Hughes has been the team's top runner with Lagat injured.
"Hughes has developed nicely for us and he's run well this fall," Hayes said.
Tony Carufe, another freshman, is also expected to place strong for the Blue Raiders. Sophomore Carlos Gonzales, senior Anthony McGary, freshman Zack Wood and senior Tim Hicks round out the Middle Tennessee runners on the men's side.
Kim Alsobrook is the top women's runner and will lead the Lady Raiders on Saturday. The Lady Raiders have a roster of walk-ons and quarter-milers from the track team and have modest goals heading into the Championships.
"We're just hoping to beat a team or two," Hayes said. "We have a young, inexperienced roster and we're not sure what to expect."
Eight other runners will compete for Middle Tennessee with only one junior in the group, Erin Russell. Sophomores Kerry Barrow, Kishara George and Fran Haas will join freshmen Alsobrook, Contrena Brown, Kristin Marcus, Lauren Milbourn and Tiffany Owens.
Hayes said he expects host Western Kentucky to be the favorite on both the men's and women's side.
"Both of their teams are just so deep, I don't think there's anybody who can compete with them."
The rest of the coaches in the Sun Belt agree with Coach Hayes' assessment, as both the men's and women's teams at Western Kentucky were picked to win Saturday in a poll of league coaches released late Thursday.
The Hilltoppers collected seven first-place votes and 97 points on the men's side, while the Lady Toppers picked up eight first-place votes and 98 points. The women will run a 6,000-meter race on Saturday, and Lady Topper Bonita Paul, a two-time all-Sun Belt performer, has the league's top time this season. The men will be competing on an 8,000-meter course, and WKU's Enda Grandfield, a three-time all-conference performer, has the league's top time over that distance (approximately five miles) this year.
The Blue Raiders were picked fifth behind WKU, Arkansas-Little Rock, Louisiana-Lafayette and North Texas. The Lady Raiders were picked to finish last.
Full meet results may be accessed at wkusports.com or at sunbeltsports.org.
2003 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Coaches' Pre-championship Polls
Men
1. Western Kentucky 97 (7)
2. Arkansas-Little Rock 92 (3)
3. Louisiana-Lafayette 73
4. North Texas 64
5. Middle Tennessee 51
6. South Alabama 50
7. Florida International 46
8. Arkansas State 39
9. New Mexico State 28
10. New Orleans 20
Women
1. Western Kentucky 98 (8)
2. North Texas 77 (2)
3. Louisiana-Lafayette 75
4. Florida International 63
4. New Orleans 63
6. New Mexico State 58
7. South Alabama 40
8. Arkansas-Little Rock 37
9. Arkansas State 29
10. Middle Tennessee 10
Nate Rau is a junior at Middle Tennessee. He can be reached at NateRau9797@yahoo.com.
