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Oct. 30, 2008
Big Ten Conference Championship Release
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's and women's cross country teams head to the University of Michigan on Sunday for the Big Ten Championships. The men's race will be the 94th annual running of the event, while the women's side is the 28th annual race. Action is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. with the women's 6K outing. Sunday's races will take place on the University of Michigan Golf Course, which is deemed a fairly tough course by the Boilermaker coaching staff. "It's got some substantial hills," said head coach Jack Warner. "Our men and women need to keep their focus on these inclines and I hope that our training on our home course has aptly prepared them for this race." The Boilermaker women look to build on last year's eighth-place performance, but will have a tough task ahead of them as the Big Ten features seven of the top 21 teams in the latest USTFCCCA national rankings. The main target of the Purdue women will be intrastate rival Indiana University with a point in the coveted Crimson and Gold Cup standings at stake. The Boilermakers own a head-to-head victory over the Hoosiers already this year, topping them at the Indiana Intercollegiate Championships on Sept. 19 in a 5K race. Juniors Katie Morrical and Kristin Phillips look to lead the Boilermaker women, both boasting some of the top efforts in Purdue history. Morrical owns the second- and third-fastest 6K times in program history, clocking a career-best time of 20:56.3 at the 2007 Big Ten Championships and crossing the line in 20:58.2 two weeks ago at the Pre-National Invitational. Phillips has led the squad in three of its four outings this season, posting the fifth-best 5K time in school history (16:39.93) at the Auburn Tiger Invitational on Oct. 4. Their supporting cast is comprised of classmates Danielle Eagan, Sarah Klaczynski and Ashlee Lengacher, senior Lynn Marsh, sophomore Kristina Krasich and freshmen Stephanie Bonk and Katie Conrad. All six have scored in at least one race so far this season with Krasich posting the best times of the group at both 5K and 6K. The Purdue men have a solid challenge in front of them as well, heading out against four of the nation's top 30 teams, including sixth-ranked Wisconsin which has won the last nine straight conference meets. With a wealth of inexperience and youth in tow, the Boilermakers look to be headed up by junior Caden Shields and freshman Cale Allen. Shields ventures into just his second race of the season, but has outstanding credentials from New Zealand and potential to live up to, while Allen has jumped straight into the fire in his rookie campaign, leading the Old Gold and Black in three of his four races this year. Rounding out the Purdue men's roster is senior Steve Swank, sophomores Robert Shiflett and Chase Kaufman, and fellow rookies Dominic DeSantis, Ladd Mercer and Steve O'Donnell. Shiflett and Kaufman have been mainstays of the Boilermakers' top five, scoring in every outing they've run in this season. Admission for the event is $5 for adults and $3 for students, children and senior citizens with ticket sales starting at 8:30 a.m. on race day at the course. The Big Ten Network will air highlights and reactions from the Cross Country Championships during Big Ten Tonight on Sunday, Nov. 2 starting at 10 p.m. (EST). For more information regarding Sunday's race please visit BigTen.com or mgoblue.com.
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