Both KU Cross Country Teams Now Ranked in Midwest Region Top 10
Sept. 12, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Both the Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams are ranked among the top 10 teams in this week’s Midwest Region polls as announced Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The KU women’s team held on to their preseason No. 7 ranking, while the men moved up three spots to No. 8. Big 12 opponents Iowa State and Oklahoma State, as well as Iowa, are listed as the top three teams on the women’s side. The top three teams for the men are Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Minnesota.
The Jayhawks have already competed in two events in 2011, posting solid performances in each of the meets. Both the KU men and women have notched team victories and have featured individual winners. At the Bob Timmons Classic at Rim Rock Farm on Saturday, Sept. 3, the men took the team victory behind junior Zach Zarda’s first-place finish while the women finished second. The Jayhawks followed up that performance with two team victories last weekend at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge with senior Rebeka Stowe taking home the women’s individual title.
Last year, the KU women finished sixth out of 27 teams at the Midwest Regional Championship. This season, the Jayhawks return six of the seven runners who competed at that meet in 2010, including Stowe, who finished in 18th place overall.
The Kansas men placed 11th at the 2010 Midwest Regional Championship in a field of 23 teams. The Jayhawks also return five of the six athletes who ran the 10K race last season. Josh Baden and Austin Bussing, who are both back for the 2011 campaign, finished among the top half of the field at last year’s meet.
Men’s Cross Country Midwest Regional Team Rankings
Rank |
School |
Location |
Conference |
Last Week |
1 |
Oklahoma State |
Stillwater, Okla. |
Big 12 |
1 |
2 |
Oklahoma |
Norman, Okla. |
Big 12 |
2 |
3 |
Minnesota |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
Big Ten |
3 |
4 |
Illinois |
Champaign, Ill. |
Big Ten |
4 |
5 |
Tulsa |
Tulsa, Okla. |
Conference USA |
5 |
6 |
Iowa State |
Ames, Iowa |
Big 12 |
6 |
7 |
Iowa |
Iowa City, Iowa |
Big Ten |
7 |
8 |
Kansas |
Lawrence, Kan. |
Big 12 |
11 |
9 |
Drake |
Des Moines, Iowa |
Missouri Valley |
12 |
10 |
Nebraska |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Big Ten |
10 |
11 |
Southern Illinois |
Carbondale, Ill. |
Missouri Valley |
9 |
12 |
South Dakota State |
Brookings, S.D. |
Summit League |
8 |
13 |
Loyola-Chicago |
Chicago, Ill. |
Horizon |
15 |
14 |
Eastern Illinois |
Charleston, Ill. |
Ohio Valley |
NR |
15 |
North Dakota State |
Fargo, N.D. |
Summit League |
14 |
Women’s Cross Country Midwest Regional Team Rankings
Rank |
School |
Location |
Conference |
Last Week |
1 |
Iowa State |
Ames, Iowa |
Big 12 |
1 |
2 |
Oklahoma State |
Stillwater, Okla. |
Big 12 |
2 |
3 |
Iowa |
Iowa City, Iowa |
Big Ten |
3 |
4 |
Minnesota |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
Big Ten |
4 |
5 |
Tulsa |
Tulsa, Okla. |
Conference USA |
5 |
6 |
Kansas State |
Manhattan, Kan. |
Big 12 |
6 |
7 |
Kansas |
Lawrence, Kan. |
Big 12 |
7 |
8 |
Northwestern |
Evanston, Ill. |
Big Ten |
10 |
9 |
Nebraska |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Big Ten |
8 |
10 |
Illinois |
Champaign, Ill. |
Big Ten |
13 |
11 |
Wichita State |
Wichita, Kan. |
Missouri Valley |
9 |
12 |
Illinois State |
Normal, Ill. |
Missouri Valley |
11 |
13 |
Missouri |
Columbia, Mo. |
Big 12 |
12 |
14 |
Saint Louis |
St. Louis, Mo. |
Atlantic 10 |
15 |
15 |
Bradley |
Peoria, Ill. |
Missouri Valley |
NR |