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Women Picked First, Men Fourth in MVC Cross Country Poll

Cross Country Wichita State

Women Picked First, Men Fourth in MVC Cross Country Poll

ST. LOUIS -- The Wichita State University cross country teams were picked to finish first on the women's side and fourth on the men's in the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches' poll.

The four-time defending champion Shocker women received seven of a possible 10 first-place votes and a total of 96 points. Illinois State picked up the remaining three first-place votes and 86 points while Missouri State rounded out the top-three with 76 points.

On the men's side, WSU was ranked fourth with 46 points. Southern Illinois, the 2007 and 2008 men's champions, were picked as the head of the class with eight first-place votes (79 points) while Indiana State garnered the lone remaining first-place vote and 71 points to come in second. Illinois State came in ahead of the Shockers in third place with 66 points.

The Shocker women will return 2008 all-conference and scholar athlete Irene Kosgei for the upcoming season along with Olivia Martinez, a 2007 all-MVC performer. WSU will have two other senior runners along with a trio of junior college transfers who will look to push the Shockers to their fifth straight conference title.

For the men, who finished in fourth place at last year's championships, sophomore Trace Kendrick (18th at MVC Championships) and fellow second-year runner Scott Ufford (13th at Missouri State Invitational) are two of the top returners. The Shockers are without a senior class on this year's squad and will rely on a young roster to push them into the MVC top-three.

The Shockers open the season next Saturday, Sept. 5, at the J.K. Gold Classic in Augusta, Kan. The Shocker men will run a 6k, while the women will compete on a 4k course.
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Players Mentioned

Trace Kendrick

Trace Kendrick

PLAYER
Sophomore
Irene Kosgei

Irene Kosgei

PLAYER
Senior
Olivia Martinez

Olivia Martinez

PLAYER
Senior
Scott Ufford

Scott Ufford

PLAYER
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Trace Kendrick

Trace Kendrick

Sophomore
PLAYER
Irene Kosgei

Irene Kosgei

Senior
PLAYER
Olivia Martinez

Olivia Martinez

Senior
PLAYER
Scott Ufford

Scott Ufford

Sophomore
PLAYER