Aug. 30, 2010

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri State cross country teams begin the 2010 season this Saturday, September 4 in St. Louis at the Washington University Early Bird. The meet is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at Central Fields in Forest Park.

The men will run a 6K course and the women will run the 4K.

In the OVC 2010 Preseason Polls the Redhawk men were picked to finish 2nd with 68 votes. Eastern Illinois also garnered 68 votes to tie the Redhawks. Eastern Kentucky was picked to finish first with 81 votes including nine first place votes. The Redhawk men received the final first place vote.

The men’s team is returning an experienced group for the upcoming season. Senior Jason Lumpkin returns after an 8th place finish in the 2009 OVC Championship with a time of 26:44.40 earning Second Team All-OVC Honors. Sophomore Tyler Mullen finished 17th in last year’s OVC Championship, running it in 27:23.27, the third best time amongst all freshmen. Senior Chris Loseman had the team’s best finish in the 2009 NCAA Regional, with a time of 34:03.40, finishing 104th.

Sophomores Devon Dudding and Joel Krause, as well as seniors Cody Martin and Brandon Funderburk also competed in the 2009 OVC Championship and will return for the 2010 season.

After a year off healing from injuries, All-OVC runners Dustin Davis and Nathan Shipley return to competition. Shipley garnered 2008 OVC Freshman of the Year honors.

Redshirt senior Paul Stemmerman and sophomore Alex Zisser, round out the returners.

The makeup of the team is completed with the addition of five freshmen.

The women’s team are led by 2009 Second Team All-OVC runner, Monica Noble. The senior finished ninth at last year’s OVC Championship with a time of 20:28.72. Noble is a top-ten returnee for the OVC this season.

Senior Kasey Owens and junior Elizabeth Speicher also ran in the OVC Championships and return for the upcoming season.

Sophomores Tiffany Mead and Christy Hazel as well as junior Sharoyah Davis round out the returnees.

The Redhawk women also feature three freshmen. Ryan Lane, a former Southeast runner, begins his first season of coaching the Redhawks cross country teams.