Women's Cross Country Competes For National Title
November 20, 2015 | Cross Country
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Competing in the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, the No. 20 Mississippi State women's cross country looks to add on to an already historic season this Saturday, Nov. 21.
"We're excited to go," MSU coach Houston Franks said. "I like our chances, and I feel we're going to do pretty well. The plan is we make it to nationals from now on."
Competition will take place at 11 a.m. CT at the E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky. MSU will be representing the SEC, as will No. 3 Arkansas and No. 19 Vanderbilt. Thirty-one teams will be competing for the title. Mississippi State along with Utah and Gonzaga are all three making their first-ever appearances in the championships.
Seven runners and one alternate will make the trip for MSU.
In her first cross country season for MSU, senior Marta Freitas has been a standout leader for the Bulldogs, finishing in the top spot in all five meets she's competed in. The Lisbon, Portugal, native also earned Second-Team All-SEC honors after finishing ninth at the SEC Championships. She earned All-Region accolades this past week after finishing sixth at the NCAA South Regionals. Her time of 20:14.30 from the SEC Championships is the ninth-fastest time in the 6K amongst SEC runners this season.
Senior Cornelia Griesche will cap her final cross country season with the Maroon and White on the national stage Saturday.
"I think it's a good opportunity to show where we are as a program," Griesche said. "It's always good to have encouragement, to have someone there to run with." Â
Throughout her career, Griesche has earned All-Region honors three times. She has also been a constant Top 5 finisher for the Bulldogs over the last three seasons. She ran her personal-best in the 6K at the 2014 NCAA South Regionals after clocking a time of 20:24.80.
Junior Rhianwedd Price is no stranger to the championships. During the 2014 cross country season, Price represented MSU in the NCAAs, where she became the second All-American in school history after finishing 24th.
This year, Price will have her team running alongside her. At the NCAA South Regional Championships, Price earned All-Region honors for the second year in a row after she finished 10th overall.
Competing in all six meets this season, junior Lisa Ziegler has finished in the MSU Top 5 in five of the races. She was also a Top 5 finisher last season for the Maroon and White. Ziegler's personal-best in the 6K came at the 2014 NCAA South Regionals with a time of 20:23.20.
With a 6K best of 20:51.30 for the season, junior Ffion Price has been a strong addition to MSU after joining the team in August. Ffion Price has competed in four meets for the Bulldogs this season.
Mia Meydrich has become a Top 5 finisher for the Bulldogs this season. At the NCAA South Regionals, Meydrich placed 17th en route to earning All-Region honors for the first time. Her personal-best in the 6K came three weeks ago at the SEC Championships where she clocked a time of 20:37.49 to place 24th.
Showing outstanding promise as a freshman, Shannon Fair has been a vital part of the women's squad this season as she has competed in all six meets. Fair posted a 6K best at the SEC Championships with a time of 21:01.80, where she finished 39th overall. Â
Freshman Antonia Hehr will serve as the alternate runner in the upcoming race for the Bulldogs. Hehr ran her season-best in the 6K 21:42.20 on the championship course at the Pre-NCAA open meet earlier this season where she finished ninth overall. She has competed in four meets for State this year.
The meet will be broadcasted live online at NCAA.com and live results can be found at http://primetimetiming.com/liveresults/2015/NCAAXC/
For more information on the MSU cross country teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@HailStateTF).Â
