By Jim Fryar
The Joplin Globe
—
It’s just a warmup meet, a chance to run against someone in different school colors. But the competition will be first-rate when Missouri Southern’s cross country teams debut.
The Lions will race today at the University of Arkansas, a perennial national power in the sport.
Both Southern coaches have major rebuilding jobs after strong showings at the NCAA Division II national championships last fall. This is their first look at the new teams, in a shortened race.
The Missouri Southern women took third place in the Division II nationals. The Southern men were No. 11 in the national meet.
“We’re going to have a lot of young pups and they’ve been training well,” said Tom Rutledge, Southern men’s coach. “We’re not in a big hurry, so going against good competition at Arkansas will be good for them.”
With senior elder statesman Jarkko Jarvenpaa training in Europe, the Lion men will have only sophomores and freshmen for the first several weeks of the season. Jarvenpaa will return from an internship in time for MIAA and postseason competition.
Sophomores Sam Pogue (Springfield Kickapoo) and Nick Niggemann (Potosi, Mo.) are the only other veterans from the top seven runners last season.
“Andrew Webb (a redshirt runner from Webb City) had a great summer and I’m really excited about my freshmen; these are some of the toughest freshmen I’ve ever had,” Rutledge said.
The Southern women have more experienced runners, but the top three veterans are coming off extended injuries or absences from running. Senior Ashley Siler (Neosho) was third in the national meet individually, but didn’t run between late November and the first week of July.
Senior Silvia Pineda (Monett) and sophomore Marlee Tegenkamp (Lee’s Summit), 92nd and 52nd in nationals, respectively, are also returning to competition. The Lions lost four of the top seven runners from last season.
Seniors Olga Bulgurova (Jefferson City) and Victoria Kline (Fairland, Okla.) and redshirt freshmen Michelle Stevens (Owasso, Okla.) are the other veterans for today’s meet.
“It’s competition and a chance to look at our team, as young as they are,” said Southern women’s coach Patty Vavra. “We’re not the team we were last year.
“We just have to keep reminding ourselves it’s a fairly young troup, with several seniors and several freshmen. They’re in the developmental stage. They could have some success by the end of the season, which is the important part of the year.”
