University of Northern Iowa
MVC Championships
UNI cross country: MVC announces pre-championship poll
10/29/2024 11:54:00 AM | Cross Country
UNI cross country at MVC Championships
- Pheasant Ridge Golf Course
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Nov. 1, 2024
- 11Â a.m. CT - Women's 6K | 12Â p.m. CT - Men's 8K
- LIVE RESULTS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI cross country team will run at home for the first time since 2016 as it hosts the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championships this Friday morning at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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Due to cold temperatures and frost in the forecast, the women's six-kilometer race will begin at 11 a.m. CT, followed by the men's eight-kilometer run at 12Â p.m. CT. Live results can be found HERE.
ÂOn Tuesday afternoon, the league office announced the results of its pre-championship poll voted on by the conference's head coaches. The Panther women were picked to finish in sixth place with 63 total points, while the men were tabbed to finish in seventh with 78 points.
ÂEntering the final month of the 2024 season, it has been a breakout year for the UNI program, which saw career-best times be set throughout the fall. On the women's side, Emma Hoins has led the Panther pack in all four of Northern Iowa's races this season, which included a runner-up finish at the Redbird Invite (21:35) and a career-best 6K time of 21:11 at the Gans Creek Classic, the sixth-fastest time in program history. UNI has also been aided by newcomer Melody Ochana, who set the tenth-fastest 6K time in team history earlier this year, as well as Amelia Hill, who this season made her collegiate cross country debut.
ÂSenior Caleb Shumaker has led the men's side this season, setting a new program record in the 8K race at Missouri's Gans Creek Classic (24:15) and followed it up with another strong run at the Bradley Pink Classic, just one second off his record pace. Carson Owens has also helped boost the UNI men's lineup as a consistent second-year runner.
MVC WOMEN'S PRE-MVC CHAMPIONSHIP POLL (Points) [First-Place Votes]
- 1st - Bradley (12) [12]
- T2nd - Belmont (40)
- T2nd - Indiana State (40)
- 4th - Illinois State (51)
- 5th - Drake (54)
- 6th - UNI (63)
- 7th - Missouri State (83)
- 8th - UIC (98)
- 9th - Southern Illinois (109)
- 10th - Murray State (112)
- T11th - Evansville (137)
- T11th - Valparaiso (137)
MVC MEN'S PRE-MVC CHAMPIONSHIP POLL (Points) [First-Place Votes]
- 1st - Belmont (17) [7]
- 2nd - Illinois State (32) [2]
- 3rd - Bradley (33) [1]
- 4th - Drake (35) [1]
- 5th - UIC (55)
- 6th - Indiana State (69)
- 7th - UNI (78)
- 8th - Southern Illinois (95)
- 9th - Valparaiso (98)
- 10th - Evansville (106)
- 11th - Murray State (108)
UNI cross country action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
