Running for another OVC title
Keith Ritchie
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern men's and women's cross-country teams are gearing up this week for the OVC Championships in Nashville on October 31.
Both teams have won the conference championships for the last three years.
Rick Erdmann, Eastern's head coach, acknowledged the target on his program's back.
"The teams in the conference would love to see us go down," Erdmann said. "But I think we have the talent and leadership to perform well."
In the pre-season, the men were projected to keep the conference crown, but the women were picked to finish second behind Murray State.
Erdmann said the women have less experience.
"Our leadership at the top involves underclassmen," Erdmann said. "We beat Murray earlier in the season, which helped our confidence. The women have had ups and downs, so how they can handle the pressure remains to be seen, but I feel they have the ability to be really good."
Erdmann said the men's team is equipped with several seniors.
Stanley Mugo, Evans Kiptoo, Chris Rengifo and Elkana Kurgat all finished in the top-six in last year's championship, and Kurgat, Mugo and Rengifo received OVC honors this season.
"Usually we have eight runners," Erdmann said. "This time, we're lucky to have six. So, it will be interesting."
The women will look for another strong performance by redshirt-freshman Picoty Leitich and junior Kat Pagano to lead their efforts.
The men's and women's team should be well prepared for the conference showdown. Erdmann entered both squads into the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. on October 17.
Eastern was the only team from the OVC in the field of 35 men's teams and 37 women's teams.
The men finished in 26th place and the women finished in 34th place in the respective fields.
Murray's women won a meet in Evansville against a much weaker field.
"When you can get your teams to line up next to UCLA and some of the other elite programs in the country, it impacts you positively in preparation for the conference," Erdmann said.
Following the men's performance in the tournament, they jumped six spots to eighth in the Southeast Regional Coaches Association rankings. The Colonels are ranked ahead of notable teams like Kentucky, Richmond and Davidson.
Erdmann said if the Colonels want to succeed in the OVC, both squads need to show a team mentality.
"If you look at all of our championship teams from the past, they all had one thing in common," Erdmann said. "They all played as a team. If we can do that, we won't disappoint."
Both teams have won the conference championships for the last three years.
Rick Erdmann, Eastern's head coach, acknowledged the target on his program's back.
"The teams in the conference would love to see us go down," Erdmann said. "But I think we have the talent and leadership to perform well."
In the pre-season, the men were projected to keep the conference crown, but the women were picked to finish second behind Murray State.
Erdmann said the women have less experience.
"Our leadership at the top involves underclassmen," Erdmann said. "We beat Murray earlier in the season, which helped our confidence. The women have had ups and downs, so how they can handle the pressure remains to be seen, but I feel they have the ability to be really good."
Erdmann said the men's team is equipped with several seniors.
Stanley Mugo, Evans Kiptoo, Chris Rengifo and Elkana Kurgat all finished in the top-six in last year's championship, and Kurgat, Mugo and Rengifo received OVC honors this season.
"Usually we have eight runners," Erdmann said. "This time, we're lucky to have six. So, it will be interesting."
The women will look for another strong performance by redshirt-freshman Picoty Leitich and junior Kat Pagano to lead their efforts.
The men's and women's team should be well prepared for the conference showdown. Erdmann entered both squads into the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. on October 17.
Eastern was the only team from the OVC in the field of 35 men's teams and 37 women's teams.
The men finished in 26th place and the women finished in 34th place in the respective fields.
Murray's women won a meet in Evansville against a much weaker field.
"When you can get your teams to line up next to UCLA and some of the other elite programs in the country, it impacts you positively in preparation for the conference," Erdmann said.
Following the men's performance in the tournament, they jumped six spots to eighth in the Southeast Regional Coaches Association rankings. The Colonels are ranked ahead of notable teams like Kentucky, Richmond and Davidson.
Erdmann said if the Colonels want to succeed in the OVC, both squads need to show a team mentality.
"If you look at all of our championship teams from the past, they all had one thing in common," Erdmann said. "They all played as a team. If we can do that, we won't disappoint."
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