2008 Woodie Awards
Womens cross country: Strength In Numbers
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Sports
Despite early injuries and question marks in the No. 4 and 5 running spots, the SIUE women's cross country team is still thinking strong.
SIUE Head coach David Astrauskas said the runners dealt with some pain during the summer and haven't enirely healed yet.
"No real big concerns, just a lot of nagging little things (that) bothered them and hampered their training a little bit," Astrauskas said.
He said they should all be ready for the season opener at the Bradley Invite in Peoria, which takes place Friday, Sept. 7.
The team expects returnees Kelly Flounders and Kayla Brown to keep up the workload that propelled them to numerous top-10 finishes in the 2006 tournaments. Brown, a sophomore, won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year last season and All-GLVC honors.
SIUE will also see sophomores Heather Hackel, Lindsey Mulvey and Ella Wayne try to crack the top 10 this season, as well as twins Stacey and Stephanie Briggs.
Stacey returns to the squad for her third year, while Stephanie, who tried out a year later than her sister, will run her second round as a Cougar.
"They add depth to our overall team," Astrauskas said.
The Cougars welcome freshman Maggie Krall, who Astrauskas said could help the team in the coming weeks.
"Right now, we are very encouraged with her start," Astrauskas said.
The women can also look forward to racing on their own course in both the Border Wars Oct. 6 with the men and when the university hosts the NCAA Division II Regionals Nov. 3. Flounders, a junior, said the runners' opportunity to sleep in their own beds before competing in what is considered one of the toughest courses in the region gives them an extra boost.
"We own it … when we go out there (with) the sense of power it helps us out a lot," Flounders said. "It will definitely put out a good name for us … especially with us going Division I."
Flounders also said the team's success is too early to tell, especially with the first tournament still a couple weeks away. Astrauskas said the future would partially depend on who can fill the No. 4 and 5 slots behind runners such as Flounders and Brown.
"Those slots really need to step up," Astrauskas said.
SIUE Head coach David Astrauskas said the runners dealt with some pain during the summer and haven't enirely healed yet.
"No real big concerns, just a lot of nagging little things (that) bothered them and hampered their training a little bit," Astrauskas said.
He said they should all be ready for the season opener at the Bradley Invite in Peoria, which takes place Friday, Sept. 7.
The team expects returnees Kelly Flounders and Kayla Brown to keep up the workload that propelled them to numerous top-10 finishes in the 2006 tournaments. Brown, a sophomore, won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year last season and All-GLVC honors.
SIUE will also see sophomores Heather Hackel, Lindsey Mulvey and Ella Wayne try to crack the top 10 this season, as well as twins Stacey and Stephanie Briggs.
Stacey returns to the squad for her third year, while Stephanie, who tried out a year later than her sister, will run her second round as a Cougar.
"They add depth to our overall team," Astrauskas said.
The Cougars welcome freshman Maggie Krall, who Astrauskas said could help the team in the coming weeks.
"Right now, we are very encouraged with her start," Astrauskas said.
The women can also look forward to racing on their own course in both the Border Wars Oct. 6 with the men and when the university hosts the NCAA Division II Regionals Nov. 3. Flounders, a junior, said the runners' opportunity to sleep in their own beds before competing in what is considered one of the toughest courses in the region gives them an extra boost.
"We own it … when we go out there (with) the sense of power it helps us out a lot," Flounders said. "It will definitely put out a good name for us … especially with us going Division I."
Flounders also said the team's success is too early to tell, especially with the first tournament still a couple weeks away. Astrauskas said the future would partially depend on who can fill the No. 4 and 5 slots behind runners such as Flounders and Brown.
"Those slots really need to step up," Astrauskas said.
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