Truman's Kelly also to compete in women's title run

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The men's and women's cross country squads from Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State will take their shots at winning national titles at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships at Slippery Rock, Pa., Saturday (Nov. 22).

The races will take place at Cooper's Lake Campground, with the men's 10-kilometer race starting at 11 a.m., CST. The women's 6-kilometer run is slated for a 12:15 p.m., CST, start. Slippery Rock University is hosting the event.

The weather forecast for the race is calling for morning snow showers and high temperatures in the upper 20s.

The Southern women defended their regional championship by scoring a six-point win over second-place Midwestern (Texas) State in the South Central Regional race in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 8. Pittsburg State claimed the third available berth from the region by six points over Dallas Baptist (Texas).

Junior Kimi Shank, the region's Athlete of the Year as awarded by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, leads the Lion contingent. She followed up her win at the MIAA Championships with a second-place finish in the regional run, leading a trio of Southern performers in the Top 25.

Shank finished 22nd in the 2007 national meet, as the Lions -- the MIAA's only team representative -- placed 13th. This will be Missouri Southern's third trip to the national championship (They also raced in 2003).

The Gorillas also had three runners finish in the top 25, with senior Erica Ogle setting the pace with her eighth-place finish in the regional. This will be Pitt State's seventh trip to nationals and second in three seasons. PSU's best finish was in 1992, when the Gorillas placed seventh with two-time national champion Christie Allen leading the way.

Also making the trip to the Keystone State will be Truman senior Danna Kelly. She qualified by placing fourth in the regional race -- all runners.... READ MORE