SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State cross country team welcomes four newcomers along with nine athletes who competed last season for the Bears, in head cross country coach
Jordan Fife's fourth season.
Jessica Allen who led the squad in all six events last season and recorded a career best 21:32.0 6k at the NCAA Midwest Regional returns for her senior season, along with fellow returnees:
Jordyn Capra,
Renae Buschling,
Mercedes Robinson,
Claire Schwarz,
Danielle Bohannon,
Erica Wollmering,
Madeline Saville and
Amber Obermaier.
"We're looking forward to getting the season started and continuing the improvement that we've seen over the last few years," Fife said. "Our hope each year is to be a stronger team than the year before and I have no doubt we can do that again this year."
After finishing eighth at the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, the Missouri State program has been picked to finish, a spot higher, seventh in the Valley's preseason poll.
"We return our number one runner in
Jessica Allen, who showed over the last year that she is one of the strongest runners in the conference," Fife said. "The team will look to her for leadership and confidence and we will rely on her ability to run with the best in the conference to help our team score at the MVC Championships at the end of October. There is a lot of work to be done between now and then and the ladies on the team are ready and excited to get started."
The Bears will have four regular season meets starting with the J.K. Gold Classic in Wichita on Saturday, Sept. 2 MSU will host the 2017 MVC Cross Country Championship in Springfield Oct. 28, over homecoming weekend.
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