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.
