ST LOUIS- Missouri State was picked to finish third in conference according to the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll released today. Reigning team champions Wichita State were picked as the early favorites with 97 points and seven first-place votes. However, the gap in competition in closing on the five-time champions, as Illinois State was picked second with 88 points and two first-place votes. Missouri State received 71 votes, but coach Greg Hipp returns five of his top eight runners from last season and looks to improve on last season’s finish. Rounding out the league are Bradley (67 points, 1 first place vote), Indiana State (64 points), Southern Illinois (62), UNI (38), Drake (32), Creighton (21) and Evansville (10).
Last season was the first time that coach Hipp has finished outside of the top three and only the second time outside of the top two. The Bears will return junior Terry Phillips, who is the defending MVC individual champion. Also returning are sophomores Emily Beaver and Ashton Stubbs. Both Beaver and Stubbs competed well during last year’s cross country campaign, but their vast improvements during the track seasons will translate to continued success on the cross country course.
The Bears will begin the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at the Southwest Baptist Invitational in Bolivar, Mo. Last season, Missouri State opened up their season with a dual against SBU. This season the competition will be in an invitational format. Races begin at 7 p.m.
