RedHawk Men Head South for LSU Invite
9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 23, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio - For the first time in program history, the Miami University men's cross country team will make the long trek to bayou territory to run in the LSU Invitational, hosted Louisiana State University, Saturday morning. The 8K race begins at 10:15 a.m. ET (9:15 a.m. local) at Highland Road Park in Baton Rouge, La.
The RedHawks will run against unfamiliar competition at the meet, racing against schools from the south such as Louisiana at Lafayette, Houston Baptist, Southeastern Louisiana, Jackson State, Tulane, New Orleans, Xavier University (La.), Southern University at New Orleans and Mississippi College, as well as the host Tigers. Houston Baptist and LSU are both ranked in the USTFCCCA South Central Region Poll.
"One of the big things is we try to occasionally race outside the region because for national rankings and possible potential moving onto NCAA Championships. They really look at how a team does cross regionally and they can really compare apples and apples," head coach Warren Mandrell said of running at LSU. "LSU has been on my radar for a little while simply because it's an SEC school and has a very good track program, NCAA championships and I thought it would be a thrill for the guys to go down there."
Miami last ran Sept. 10 when the RedHawks captured the Miami Open team title at their only home meet of the season. The `Hawks totaled just 25 points, finishing ahead of three other schools. Junior Jarrod Eick (Hartville, Ohio) won the meet for the second straight season, clocking 25:39 in the team's first 8K of the year, earning him MAC Men's Runner of the Week. Both Eick and the RedHawks won titles at their first meet of the season as well, winning the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge Sept. 3.
Sophomore Dave Wing (Naperville, Ill.) and redshirt freshman Daniel Garleb (Pickerington, Ohio) took second and third, respectively, as Miami captured the top three spots at the Miami Open. Rounding out Miami's scoring five at the Miami Open was redshirt junior David Eichenberger (Plainfield, Ind.), who finished eighth, and freshman Ryan Moncrieff (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.), who placed 12th.
Following the LSU Invitational, the RedHawks aim to defend their title at the All-Ohio Championship in Cedarville, Ohio next Friday, Sept. 30.
--MURedHawks.com--