Saturday, November 1
Carbondale, Ill.
10:30 a.m.
University of Northern Iowa
at
MVC Championships
UNI Races at MVC Cross Country Championship
10/26/2018 7:40:00 PM | Cross Country
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI cross country has been building all fall for championship season. Saturday, the Panthers get their chance to earn some hardware at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Saturday in Peoria, Illinois.
UNI head coach Dave Paulsen believes his teams are ready to compete at a high level at the conference meet.
"I'm really happy with the progress we've seen from the team over the last few weeks," Paulsen said. "You try to build every week and get better every week so you are ready for the moment. Our whole season boils down to what happens at the conference championship, and I think our athletes are in a great spot heading into this weekend."
The UNI men are led by Wal Khat, the junior in his first year of competition for the Panthers has been a revelation. He led the way in every meet and picked up top 20 finishes in some of the toughest races in the Midwest, including a 12th-place finish at Minnesota's Roy Griak Invite.
Khat has the opportunity to turn heads Saturday.
"He loves to race and every time he hits the line, you know you are going to get his best," Paulsen said. "It is huge for a coach to know that your top runners are going to put their best effort out week in and week out. I know he is excited about this weekend. We can't wait to get him around the other guys in the conference and see where he lands."
For his part, Khat is excited to see what his teammates can do.
"Every point counts," Khat said. "I expect everybody to do well because we all need every point and every individual to perform as a team."
Ben Ahlrichs, Alex Jackson, Andrew Kephart and CJ May all scored for UNI in the last meet which took place on the same course as Saturday's meet.
The UNI men were picked fifth in the pre-conference meet poll released by the conference Tuesday.
On the women's side, the Panthers were picked fourth overall, but Paulsen believes that any of the top teams in the MVC could come away with the title.
"The women's race is going to be one of those meets where 20 points could separate top place through sixth place," Paulsen said. "It is going to be a really fun meet to try to figure where everyone is at. Workouts have been going great, races have been going pretty well. I am excited about that whole group because I think they are going to be ready to step it up in a big way this weekend."
McKayla Cole and Gabby Champion have led the Panthers so far this season with Gabby Skopec, Alyssa Williams and Tess Roorda rounding out the scoring at the Bradley Pink Classic.
Cole was disappointed with her performance on the same course last week. Saturday she is determined to show that her showing was an aberration.
"Last weekend was a test for me," Cole said. "It just lit a fire inside of me to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities. With this being a smaller meet, I know who I need to stick myself to. I honestly don't know where I am stacked up to be, but I am going for top five."
Like Khat, Cole has high expectations for her teammates in Peoria.
"We're coming in seeded fourth and I think we're going to surprise people and do a lot better than expected," Cole said. "So, we're going to go for it."
WHAT
Missouri Valley Cross Country Championship
WHERE
Peoria, Illinois • Newman Golf Course
WHEN
Saturday, Oct. 27 • Women's Race - 10:35 • Men's Race – 11:35
FOLLOW LIVE
ESPN3 (Men) • ESPN3 (Women) • Live Results
UNI head coach Dave Paulsen believes his teams are ready to compete at a high level at the conference meet.
"I'm really happy with the progress we've seen from the team over the last few weeks," Paulsen said. "You try to build every week and get better every week so you are ready for the moment. Our whole season boils down to what happens at the conference championship, and I think our athletes are in a great spot heading into this weekend."
The UNI men are led by Wal Khat, the junior in his first year of competition for the Panthers has been a revelation. He led the way in every meet and picked up top 20 finishes in some of the toughest races in the Midwest, including a 12th-place finish at Minnesota's Roy Griak Invite.
Khat has the opportunity to turn heads Saturday.
"He loves to race and every time he hits the line, you know you are going to get his best," Paulsen said. "It is huge for a coach to know that your top runners are going to put their best effort out week in and week out. I know he is excited about this weekend. We can't wait to get him around the other guys in the conference and see where he lands."
For his part, Khat is excited to see what his teammates can do.
"Every point counts," Khat said. "I expect everybody to do well because we all need every point and every individual to perform as a team."
Ben Ahlrichs, Alex Jackson, Andrew Kephart and CJ May all scored for UNI in the last meet which took place on the same course as Saturday's meet.
The UNI men were picked fifth in the pre-conference meet poll released by the conference Tuesday.
On the women's side, the Panthers were picked fourth overall, but Paulsen believes that any of the top teams in the MVC could come away with the title.
"The women's race is going to be one of those meets where 20 points could separate top place through sixth place," Paulsen said. "It is going to be a really fun meet to try to figure where everyone is at. Workouts have been going great, races have been going pretty well. I am excited about that whole group because I think they are going to be ready to step it up in a big way this weekend."
McKayla Cole and Gabby Champion have led the Panthers so far this season with Gabby Skopec, Alyssa Williams and Tess Roorda rounding out the scoring at the Bradley Pink Classic.
Cole was disappointed with her performance on the same course last week. Saturday she is determined to show that her showing was an aberration.
"Last weekend was a test for me," Cole said. "It just lit a fire inside of me to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities. With this being a smaller meet, I know who I need to stick myself to. I honestly don't know where I am stacked up to be, but I am going for top five."
Like Khat, Cole has high expectations for her teammates in Peoria.
"We're coming in seeded fourth and I think we're going to surprise people and do a lot better than expected," Cole said. "So, we're going to go for it."
WHAT
Missouri Valley Cross Country Championship
WHERE
Peoria, Illinois • Newman Golf Course
WHEN
Saturday, Oct. 27 • Women's Race - 10:35 • Men's Race – 11:35
FOLLOW LIVE
ESPN3 (Men) • ESPN3 (Women) • Live Results
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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