Women?s Cross Country Picked to Finish Sixth in SEC
August 31, 2015 | Cross Country
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After a record breaking 2014 season, the Mississippi State women's cross country team was selected to place sixth in the Southeastern Conference and fourth in the NCAA South Regionals announced Monday.
“Going into this year we've got a women's team that is going to be very good and deep,” MSU coach Houston Franks said. “The team has a lot of leadership on the course and we've got some really good young ones joining the team.”
The women's team returns seven veterans, including All-American Rhianwedd Price, and five newcomers.
Last season at the SEC Championships, the women's team finished fifth, the highest finish in program history. Price was named to the All-SEC team after finishing fourth individually in the 6K with a time of 19:53.79.
At the NCAA South Regionals the women's team earned sixth, with Price leading the way again with a personal-best time of 19:37.20 in the 6K.
From the NCAA Regionals, Price went on to represent MSU in the NCAA Championships 6K where she went on to finish 24th individually after running a time of 20:30.00.
Other key returning standouts for the women's team will be senior Cornelia Griesche and junior Lisa Ziegler, both of whom were named to the South All-Region team along with Price.
Newcomers Marta Freitas will also be a strong impact for the women's 2015 season. Freitas joined the team in January and was a track and field outdoor All-American in the 1500m run.
While the women were chosen to finish sixth and fourth, the MSU men's squad was selected to finish 11th in both the SEC and the South Regionals.
With five returners and 8 newcomers, leadership for the men's team will come from seniors Mathew Dunn, Andrew Monaghan and Patrick Monaghan.
“There is going to be pressure on the seniors this year to lead,” Franks said. “How well they do and how hard they work will be a trickle down effect to the freshman runners.”
Last season, Dunn and Patrick Monaghan were both a constant finisher in the Bulldog's Top 5 runners. Andrew Monaghan competed in two meets for the Bulldogs including the NCAA South Regionals where he finished second for MSU and 58th overall.
On the women's side Arkansas is picked to finish first, while in-state rivals Ole Miss were selected to finish first on the men's side.
The 2015 campaign will kick off Saturday, Sept. 5, as the Maroon and White are set to compete in the Memphis Twilight.
For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailStateTF and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
