Meet Information

• Event: Gabby Reuveni Early Bird Meet (4k), hosted by Washington University
• Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 2, 6 p.m.
• Location: Forest Park (Central Fields), St. Louis, Mo.
• Participating Teams: (traditional team scoring) Southeast Missouri State, Washington University, Missouri Baptist, Maryville (Mo.), Webster University, Fontbonne, Greenville, Stephens, Williams Baptist, St. Louis Pharmacy.
• Meet Results: Results
• Follow the Bears: Facebook | Twitter | Team Twitter

 
 
ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri State women's cross country team opens its 2016 campaign Friday evening here with the Gabby Reuveni Early Bird meet, hosted by Washington University.
 
The four-kilometer race will take place on the Central Fields course in historic Forest Park. The two-kilometer loop course has recently served as the host site for the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships.
 
Quoting Coach Fife
Missouri State head coach Jordan Fife enters his second season as Missouri State's head cross country coach and returns 13 athletes from last season.
 
"We're looking forward to a good, competitive meet. The 4k course is an off distance for us, but it's a fairly small meet and it will give us a chance to work on some things up front as a group. We're just excited to get the season started off on the right foot.
 
"The majority of the team came back with a good fitness level, and that's a really good indicator coming into the year. So we want to see that trend continue for the long-term success of our program.
 
"The freshmen have exceeded my expectations already. They've put in the work and haven't shied away from running in the top group. I'm really looking forward to seeing them run this weekend, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see a couple of them pushing into scoring position for us."
 
Harrier Highlights

• The Bears will send 10 runners to the season opener, including three freshmen. Newcomers Danielle Bohannon (Edwardsville, Ill.), Jordyn Capra (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Erica Wollmering (Kirksville, Mo.) will all make their MSU debut at the Forest Park meet.
• Four of the team's top five performers at last year's MVC Championship meet return this season, all of whom turned in sub-20-minute performances at the Valley Championships. Jade Raynor (18:39.5), Savannah (Beaver) Aleckson (19:28.7), Alyson Jones (19:51.8) and Jessica Allen (19:58.1) lead the impressive cast of Bear returnees.
• The Bears have four regular-season meets on this fall's slate, including the first two within the state of Missouri. After the season opener in St. Louis, MSU will next compete at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin on Sept. 17.

Follow the Bears
For more information on the Missouri State cross country team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or visit the team Twitter @MSUBearsTrackXC. Fans can also follow Bears Athletics @MissouriStBears on Twitter and Facebook.