KU Women Ranked Seventh, Men 11th in Midwest Preseason Cross Country Polls

Aug. 29, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas men’s and women’s teams were both included in the top 15 of the Midwest region preseason rankings as was announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Monday. The women’s team will enter the 2011 season ranked seventh, while the men are 11^th in the Midwest region.

The KU women return a key nucleus of runners that had standout seasons a year ago. While the Jayhawks lost a key aspect from last year’s squad in departing senior Amanda Miller, the coaches have their eyes on several women who will be able to fill the void left by Miller.

Leading the KU group will be senior Rebeka Stowe, who had a breakthrough season last year, becoming just the third KU woman to earn All-Big 12 honors while also leading the women’s team in all four races she competed in. Also looking to have standout seasons in 2011 are senior Kara Windisch, juniors Tessa Turcotte, Allie Marquis and Kyra Kilwien and sophomore Natalie Becker, each of whom were in the top seven of the women’s team a year ago.

Like the women, the KU men return the bulk of the runners that combined for much of their success in 2010. Even though the Jayhawks lost the leadership and experience of outgoing senior Nick Caprario, several other men are fit to fill his spot at the front of the pack.

The Jayhawks will once again be led by senior Donny Wasinger who has been the team’s top performer for the past three seasons. The Winona, Minn., native is coming off a season where he was an All-Big 12 selection after his 13^th-place finish at the conference meet, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships for his 10^th-place finish at the NCAA Regionals, broke the 25-minute mark in each 8K race he competed in and became the first KU male to take part in the NCAA Championships since 2007.

Joining Wasinger in the men’s efforts will be a large group of returners, all of whom gained valuable experience during the 2010 campaign. Senior Austin Bussing, juniors Josh Baden and Zach Zarda and sophomores Nikki Trooien-Smith and Jose Muñoz are each primed to take the men’s program back to the top of the Big 12 this season.

Both cross country teams will kick off the 2011 season on Saturday (Sept. 3) with the Bob Timmons Classic at the Jayhawks’ home course, Rim Rock Farm. The men’s 6K race begins at 9 a.m. while the women’s race starts at 10 a.m. For results and a complete recap of the event, log on to kuathletics.com.