Cross Country teams ready for MIAA meet

Tom Rutledge’s Missouri Southern men’s cross country team is in search of its fourth straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship in as many tries this millennium. Patty Vavra’s women’s contingent could be poised for its first conference title since 1998.

Both teams will be in action on Saturday in Kirksville, Mo. for the MIAA Championships, hosted by Truman State University.

The Missouri Southern women ranked No. 21 in the latest NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association poll, have taken off since the team hosted its Southern Stampede back on Sept. 20. Since then, the Lions have a first-place showing at the Missouri-Rolla Miner Invitational and a third-place finish in the 21-team Missouri-Illinois Border War.

Southern finished behind both Pittsburg State and Truman State in September’s Stampede. But at the Oct. 11 Border War in Edwardsville, Ill., the Lions avenged both losses by finishing ahead of PSU, TSU and all other MIAA representatives. MSSU is the only team from the MIAA ranked in the national top 25.

The Southern women are ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region, ahead of Abilene Christian (Texas) and Central Missouri State. Truman and Pittsburg State round out the top five in that poll.

The Lions top four has been unchanged throughout the season, although the group has shuffled some. Senior Jen Noelken (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne) has been Southern’s top finisher in each of the last three meets, while junior Ashley Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) has been the No. 2 runner in the last two. Sophomore Megan Russell (Jefferson City, Mo.), a redshirt in 2002, has been steady since the season’s beginning and has been the Lions’ No. 2 or 3 runner all season. Senior Rachel McGowan (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) has also been among the team’s top four.

Noelken has been in the top 17 of every meet this year. Both Noelken and Caffey are returning all-MIAA performers after top-10 finishes at the conference meet last year, when the Lions placed third overall their best finish since winning the conference championship in ‘98.

Southern’s men enter the weekend ranked No. 22 in the country and third in the South Central Region, behind Abilene Christian and Truman State, ranked 17th in the national poll. Five of the top six in the region hail from the MIAA, with Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri and Emporia State rounding out the top six.

The Lions have seen several conference competitors this season, including Central Missouri twice and Truman once. Still, no MIAA team has defeated the Lions this year.

Senior Magnus Holmstrom (Inga, Finland/Karis Billnas) has been Missouri Southern’s No. 1 runner all season and has three top-12 finishes. He is on track for his fourth straight All-MIAA honor.

Juniors Craig Rhoads (West Plains, Mo.) and Paul Koehler (Sunset Hills, Mo./Lindbergh) comprise Southern’s Nos. 2 and 3 runners. Koehler came on to finish ninth at the Missouri-Illinois Border War earlier this month and Rhoads was 11th at the University of Arkansas and 23rd at the 24-team Southern Stampede. Koehler was 17th at last year’s MIAA meet but finished seventh as a freshman in 2001. Rhoads was also close in 2002, placing 14th in last year’s conference field.

Sophomore Lucas Plocher (West Plains, Mo.) and true freshman Brian Roe (West Plains, Mo.) complete the Lions’ top five entering the conference meet.

After Saturday’s MIAA Championships, Southern will have another two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, which will be held in Commerce, Texas on Nov. 8.


	Oct. 24, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cross Country teams ready for MIAA meet Southern men looking for fourth straight conference crown Tom Rutledge’s Missouri Southern men’s cross country team is in search of its fourth straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship in as many tries this millennium. Patty Vavra’s women’s contingent could be poised for its first conference title since 1998. Both teams will be in action on Saturday in Kirksville, Mo. for the MIAA Championships, hosted by Truman State University. The Missouri Southern women ranked No. 21 in the latest NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association poll, have taken off since the team hosted its Southern Stampede back on Sept. 20. Since then, the Lions have a first-place showing at the Missouri-Rolla Miner Invitational and a third-place finish in the 21-team Missouri-Illinois Border War. Southern finished behind both Pittsburg State and Truman State in September’s Stampede. But at the Oct. 11 Border War in Edwardsville, Ill., the Lions avenged both losses by finishing ahead of PSU, TSU and all other MIAA representatives. MSSU is the only team from the MIAA ranked in the national top 25. The Southern women are ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region, ahead of Abilene Christian (Texas) and Central Missouri State. Truman and Pittsburg State round out the top five in that poll. The Lions top four has been unchanged throughout the season, although the group has shuffled some. Senior Jen Noelken (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne) has been Southern’s top finisher in each of the last three meets, while junior Ashley Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) has been the No. 2 runner in the last two. Sophomore Megan Russell (Jefferson City, Mo.), a redshirt in 2002, has been steady since the season’s beginning and has been the Lions’ No. 2 or 3 runner all season. Senior Rachel McGowan (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South) has also been among the team’s top four. Noelken has been in the top 17 of every meet this year. Both Noelken and Caffey are returning all-MIAA performers after top-10 finishes at the conference meet last year, when the Lions placed third overall their best finish since winning the conference championship in ‘98. Southern’s men enter the weekend ranked No. 22 in the country and third in the South Central Region, behind Abilene Christian and Truman State, ranked 17th in the national poll. Five of the top six in the region hail from the MIAA, with Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri and Emporia State rounding out the top six. The Lions have seen several conference competitors this season, including Central Missouri twice and Truman once. Still, no MIAA team has defeated the Lions this year. Senior Magnus Holmstrom (Inga, Finland/Karis Billnas) has been Missouri Southern’s No. 1 runner all season and has three top-12 finishes. He is on track for his fourth straight All-MIAA honor. Juniors Craig Rhoads (West Plains, Mo.) and Paul Koehler (Sunset Hills, Mo./Lindbergh) comprise Southern’s Nos. 2 and 3 runners. Koehler came on to finish ninth at the Missouri-Illinois Border War earlier this month and Rhoads was 11th at the University of Arkansas and 23rd at the 24-team Southern Stampede. Koehler was 17th at last year’s MIAA meet but finished seventh as a freshman in 2001. Rhoads was also close in 2002, placing 14th in last year’s conference field. Sophomore Lucas Plocher (West Plains, Mo.) and true freshman Brian Roe (West Plains, Mo.) complete the Lions’ top five entering the conference meet. After Saturday’s MIAA Championships, Southern will have another two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, which will be held in Commerce, Texas on Nov. 8.