Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross country closes regular season at Pre-Nationals
10/14/2005 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Oct. 14, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University cross country team wraps up its season Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Pre-Nationals, hosted by Indiana State University. The men's and women's teams will each travel to Terre Haute, Ind. to compete at the site of the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championship.
The Pre-Nationals has three divisions, the Blue, White and Open. The Blue and White are the largest and most competitive with the Open division being a smaller race.
"We've elected to run in the open race for developmental purposes going into the MVC Championship," said SIU Head Coach Matt Sparks. "We could have run in the seeded race, but the Open race will more simulate what we are looking to achieve in two weeks at the MVC Championship."
Another reason for Sparks was to have his top runners mentally prepared and ready to get out front early in the race.
"The field size will be about the caliber of what our conference meet will be. So, it will give Joe Byrne and Sarah Rinker, our front runners, the feeling of being out front and challenging for the win," said Sparks.
A well-prepared Saluki squad will be making the trip this weekend. After being crippled with injuries early in the season, everyone on the team is healthy and ready for a strong finish to the season.
SIU will see one newcomer in its lineup at Indiana State. After Jessica Ordway went out permanently with injuries in Minneapolis, Sparks decided to add Ty-Nica Davis to his lineup.
Davis ran in the Evansville Early Bird earlier this season, finishing 18th with a time of 16:31.70. Her experience in in that meet should pay dividends heading into the conference meet as Evansville is also hosting the MVC Championship.
The Salukis are coming off a successful weekend at the Saluki Invitational. Joe Byrne won the men's individual title for the third consecutive time as the team finished second overall.
Sarah Rinker led the women's team to victory as she finished second individually.
"Everybody's had a great week of practice," said Sparks. "The Saluki Invitational gave everybody a lot of confidence going into the last t wo weeks of the season."
The men's team will run a 10K beginning Saturday at 1:30 p.m. while the women are running a 6K at 2:10 p.m.
