Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross country squad's to resume action at Illinois Invitational
09/21/2001 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Sept. 21, 2001
CARBONDALE - After a long layoff the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale men's and women's cross country teams will be back in action Saturday at the University of Illinois Invitational.
This will be just the second meet of the season for each team, and the first competition in three weeks since the season-opening Saluki Fast Start Open. Each team was scheduled to compete at the Illinois State Invitational last weekend, but the meet was cancelled due the recent national tragedies. Each team is coming off a first-place finish at the Saluki Fast Start Open on September 1.
The event will be held at the Orange and Blue Golf Course in Savoy, Ill., with the men running an 8,000-meter race at 9:45 a.m. and the women running a distance of 5,000 meters starting at 10:30 a.m.
The SIU women's team will be well rested but short-handed, as they were dealt a blow this week when top runner Noa Beitler announced she was leaving the team to concentrate solely on the upcoming track and field season. Beitler won her first-ever collegiate cross country meet at the Saluki Fast Start Open, but will now concentrate on training for her main track event - the 800 meter run - in which she holds the SIU indoor and outdoor records.
"It is a big step up for an 800 meter runner,'' said Saluki women's coach Jeff Jones of Beitler's transition to cross country. "I've known a few in the past who have been able to do so, and some who have not. I think that first meet was an indication that Noa is one of those that "could" due to her natural talents, but she chose not to do so.''
The Saluki women will have just four scholarship runners available for the race, and will add freshman walk-on Erica Hall as their fifth runner, just enough to register a team score.
"Frankly, we have always been one or two injuries from this situation so Noa leaving didn't really create a situation that wasn't already precarious,'' added Jones.
The men's team will welcome back junior Andrew Warnsing and be close to full strength. Senior captain Joe Ziebert will not compete, but is expected back on October 6.
This year's field will be one of the largest in recent years, with 14 teams participating on the men's side and 16 teams competing in the women's race. The larger field is due in large part to many teams adding a meet to their schedule after the cancellation of most meets last weekend in the wake of the recent national tragedies.
"This is a big meet with quality teams,'' said Jones. "The girls have been training hard and are ready to run. Quality meets like this are the way to build your team and individuals - if you want to run like the best you have to race against the best.''
Women's Field (16 Teams): Bradley, Butler, Chicago State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, Northen Iowa, Northwestern, SIU, Valparaiso, Wichita State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Men's Field (14 Teams): Bradley, Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Iowa, SIU, U.S. Naval Academy, Valparaiso, Wichita State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.
