Cross Country Set To Begin 2011 Season Thursday

September 05 | Cross Country

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's cross country teams will hit the ground running when they open the fall campaign at the 43rd running of the Tommy Evans Invitational on Sept. 8 at nearby Firestone Metro Park.

The deep and experienced men's team will begin pursuit of their first ever Mid-American Conference title after a strong showing at last year's championships where they finished fourth, just 10 points shy of second place.

Conversely, the women's team – fueled by an influx of five talented freshmen and a host of returners – will look to build off the winning tradition established during an impressive run spanning back to its first MAC championship team in 1999.

For head coach Scott Jones, a two-time MAC Coach of the Year (1999, '05), it will be his 16th year at UA, while men's coach Lee LaBadie opens his third campaign on staff.

The men's 17-runner roster will feature nine upperclassmen this season, led by All-MAC honoree Andy Knapp – who earned a 10th-place finish at last year's championships – and a host of veterans who helped contribute to the men's track and field team's sweep of the MAC indoor and outdoor championships in 2011.

In particular, sophomore Brad Hough appears poised for a big year after finishing 10th in the 5k at the USA Junior Track and Field Championships last June with a time of 14:39.22.

Also providing depth and leadership will be a number of top-five finishers from last year's MAC Championships, including senior Gus Dudek, junior Dan Jackisch and sophomore Kyle Wheeler.

The women's team – which finished third or better at the MAC Championships each season from 2003-'09, including its second ever team title in 2005 – may be faced with its biggest transition phase under Jones following the losses of all-conference runners Kim Lorentz and Cassie Schenck to graduation.

With no defined No. 1 or No. 2 runner, the Zips will look for the right blend of experience and youth to fill the void.

Local newcomers Morgan Willis (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Woodridge), who won the state championship in the girl's 1,600 last spring, and high school teammate Maria Moore, who finished runner up, are expected to contribute immediately while veteran sophomores Kayla Whitlow, Alex Bowers and Sarah Baker will also push the pack.