MSU Cross Country Ready For 2015 Season
July 30, 2015 | Cross Country
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Last year the Mississippi State cross country women's team saw one of the most successful seasons in school history. This year, both the men's and women's teams look to improve as the overall program continues to climb the ladder of success.
“We're looking forward to the upcoming season,” MSU coach Houston Franks said. “We saw a lot of success last year on the women's side, and we really hope both teams can improve this year.”
The Bulldogs are slated to compete in seven meets with hopes of appearing in the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Louisville, Ky.
Concluding the 2014 season, the MSU women's team recorded the second All-American in program history after Rhianwedd Price finished 24th with a personal-best 19:31.60 in the 6K.
Kicking off the 2015 season on Sept. 5, the Maroon and White will head to Memphis for the Memphis Twilight. Last season both squads took home first place. Former Bulldog Damian Roszko also captured the individual first-place victory in the 4-mile on the men's team with a time of 20:02.56, while standout Price finished first in the women's 5K with a time of 17:15.12.
Following the Memphis Twilight the Bulldogs will head to Nashville on Sept. 19, to compete in the Commodore Classic before taking off for Charlottesville, Va., for the Panorama Farms Invite on Sept. 26.
With hopes of making nationals in November, the Bulldogs will get a shot at the course when the teams travel to Louisville for the Pre-NCAA Meet on Oct. 17, which immediately follows the Crimson Classic on Oct. 16 in Tuscaloosa.
Post season will begin on Oct. 30 with the SEC Championships in College Station. The women's team recorded the highest finish in school history last season after finishing fifth with 171 points, while the men placed ninth with 249 points. Leading the women's squad was Price after she finished fourth with a time 19:53.79 en route to All-SEC honors.
The Bulldogs return to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 13 for the NCAA South Regional Championships. Three MSU women's returnees were named to the All-Region team last season after finishing in the Top 25 individually, while the team earned sixth place overall. The three include Price, who finished third, and teammates Lisa Ziegler and Cornelia Griesche who finished 21st and 22nd, respectively. The men's team earned 14th, with Roszko finishing 17th to be named to the men's All-Region team.
“We have a lot of returnees on both teams who will be key leaders this season,” Franks said. “There are also a lot of newcomers to the teams who I feel will be great representations of this team on and off the course.”
For more information on the men's and women's cross country teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
2015 Cross Country Schedule
Sept. 5 Memphis Twilight
Sept. 19 Commodore Classic
Sept. 26 Panorama Farms Invite
Oct. 16 Crimson Classic
Oct. 17 Pre-NCAA Meet
Oct. 30 SEC Championships
Nov. 13 NCAA South Regional Championships
Nov. 21 NCAA Championships
