Oct. 29, 2009
WACO, Texas - Baylor's cross country teams will travel to Columbia, Mo., for the 2009 Big 12 Cross Country Championships at the A.L. Gustin Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Both teams will look to improve on last year's finishes at the conference championship. The women placed second overall led by the trio of Erin Bedell, Nichole Jones and Danielle Bradley. Bedell and Jones each earned all-Big 12 honors at the meet, finishing third and 11th, respectively. On the men's side, Robbie Knorr and Brandon White both finished in the top 50, helping a young Bears squad to a 10th-place team finish.
"They are ready to go," head coach Todd Harbour said. "We definitely have a good crew headed up there and we are looking forward to it. We have been waiting for the Big 12 meet for a year now. It has been one of our goals to get up there and perform at a high level."
The trio of women are all back in 2009, and will look to challenge defending champion Texas Tech, who is ranked 14th in the latest USTFCCCA poll. Colorado enters as the favorite on the women's side, ranked No. 3. Iowa State is ranked 19th, while the Bears, who were as high as 12th, are ranked 26th. All but three of the top 15 finishers from last year's Big 12 Championship are back in 2009.
"Our three seniors on the women's side are all healthy and ready to go," Harbour said. "Colorado ran really well at Pre-Nationals, and they have won most of the Big 12 titles, so you have to feel that they are the favorite. Texas Tech won it last year and they have a great crew."
For the men, Knorr and fellow junior Jeff Sadler, have been solid for the Bears this season. The duo has been the first and second finishers across the line for Baylor at all three meets in 2009. Defending conference champ German Fernandez of Oklahoma State is back to defend his individual title, as well as the No. 3 Cowboys team title. Colorado is ranked fourth, Oklahoma 20th, and Iowa State 23rd in the NCAA on the men's side.
"On the men's side, its Oklahoma State and Colorado," Harbour said. "Those two have separated themselves a little bit. We are much improved, and we are hoping to improve on last year's finish. We had a really good work out on Tuesday. Jeff and Robbie have been looking good, and Zac (Flowers) and Chris (Gowell) have had some good workouts also."
The men's 8,000-meter race is set to kick off the championships at 10 a.m. CT, followed by the women's 6,000-meter race at 11 a.m. The top teams on each side will be crowned league champions, while the top 15 individuals from each race will earn all-Big 12 honors.
