Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Cross Country Ready To Run With 2003 Schedule
08/14/2003 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Aug. 14, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
Carbondale, Ill. - Men's cross country head coach Matt McClelland feels his team is ready to take the next step toward reaching the top meets in the nation - a goal that would boost the Salukis past their seventh place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference last season.
"The best part of our schedule this year is probably the Pre-National meet we're going to. We finally got a team together to where we think we're going to have a shot to really contend in the MVC," says McClelland. "When you feel like your going to be able to contend in the conference that you're in, you want to get to the top meets in the nation. We feel like we are close enough to try and qualify for Nationals, so we need to take the next step. The next step for us is attending this meet (pre-nationals)."
Leading the way for SIU is lone senior Doron Giat, who placed 6th at the conference meet last year. McClelland says Giat is the team's natural leader on and off the course. Juniors Tony LaChiana and Eli Baker, a local Marion, Ill. product, should also add some leadership and solid running for the men's team. McClelland explains that for the Salukis to succeed the four incoming freshman are going to have to make an immediate impact.
"We have three guys coming back, but they score five runners in cross country," said McClelland. "I think our freshman are going to very important to this team because in order for us to succeed two or three of those guys have to step up and help us. I think they will."
"We really have a totally new team. There is a lot of talent on this team, and we've got an opportunity," continues McClelland. "We have to set our standards high from the first day. If I can set those standards high, and get that train of thought going, it should affect the rest of the team."
2003 Men's Cross Country Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME09/13/2003 Bradley University Peoria, Ill. TBA09/19/2003 Alabama Invitational Tuscalosa, Ala. TBA10/11/2003 Saluki Invitational Carbondale, Ill. 9:00 AM10/18/2003 Pre-Nationals Cedar Falls, Iowa TBA11/01/2003 MVC Championship Des Moines, Iowa TBA11/15/2003 NCAA Regional Champ. Stillwater, Okla. TBA11/24/2003 NCAA National Champ. Cedar Falls, Iowa TBA
Players Mentioned
