Photo by MSU Athletics
The Murray State men’s and women’s cross country teams are back in action, Saturday, when they will run at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The women will run a 5K at 9 a.m. followed by the men running an 8K at 10 a.m.
It will be the 58th men’s championships while the women will be running for the 40th time. It also returns to Southeast Missouri for the first time since 2008.
“Both our men and women have been working really hard this season,” said assistant coach Jordan Wallace, who is the primary coach for the Racers long distance runners. “Our younger runners increased their overall mileage a bit this season and they’ve handled it really well. I am expecting a lot out our freshmen at their first OVC’s and I am looking forward to seeing who is able to step up for their team.
Vince Turner has been leading the way for the men, finishing in the top spot for the Racers in all four races this season, including a 4th-place overall finish at the Saluki Invitational. He set a new personal record for an 8K at the Louisville Classic with a time of 25:37.1.
The Racers will also lean on junior Zach Balleau, who has finished as the team’s second finisher in all four races and set a personal record at the Louisville Classic with a time of 25:53.2.
“Vince and Zach have really stood out for the men’s team this year and are a great example of what it looks like to really bust your butt over the summer when no one is watching and I think all of their hard work is going to pay off this weekend at OVC,” said Wallace.
For the women, Rebekah Priddy has been the top finisher for the Racers all season and is coming off her best race of the season at the UE Invitational, running a season-best time of 18:27.1 en route to a 6th place finish.
“Bekah is our captain for the women’s Cross Country team and I can’t imagine a better leader,” said Wallace. “She has had to get through some pretty grueling workouts by herself this season and I am really confident in her ability to handle any kind of racing situation at OVC.”
Senior Ida Mutai and freshman Emma Creviston are two of the other top runners for Murray State as they have battled for the team’s second position in the last three races.
Eastern Kentucky has dominated the OVC recently as the men have won 12 straight OVC championships while the women have won six straight.
Courtesy of MSU Athletics
