MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State men's and women's cross country teams are making a return to the Yellowhammer State for the first time in two years, where the two squads will compete in the Southern Showcase Presented by Jacksonville State, on the John Hunt Park course in Huntsville, Ala.
Competition will be held on Friday morning, with the men's 8K invitational race slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, while the women 5K invitational division will start at 9:10 a.m. ET. There also will be open events held at 9:45 a.m. and 10:35 a.m., respectively. MSU is entered in the invitational races.
The Eagles previously ran at the meet in 2024, when the women were 21st out of 49 teams and the men placed 24th out of 47.
MSU opened the season two weeks ago at the EKU Invitational. Both squads placed second to host Eastern Kentucky.
"This will be our first real test," said Eagle head coach
Clay Dixon. "EKU was just a dress rehearsal and getting the newcomers acclimated to race-day routine. Friday, we'll have big competition and opportunities to showcase our talent early this season."
Only three individuals who ran in the 2024 meet will be in action for the Blue and Gold on Friday.
Junior
Ryan Richendollar was the top returning male. He was 223rd in 26:53.95. Senior
Keghan Thompson was 293rd in 27:50.94. Former Eagle
Jacob Vogelpohl was the top MSU finisher, placing 174th in 26:18.19.
Junior
Meredith Campbell is back having finished in 204th in 2024. She finished in 19:23.13.
Laikin Tarlton had the best overall performance at that meet for the Eagles, placing 120th in 18:31.42.
At EKU, a pair of freshmen led the Blue and Gold:
Jake Hagan and
Shelby Lamb. Hagan crossed the line in his 5K race in fifth, while Lamb, racing a 4.2K, placed second.
A total of 65 schools is expected to compete in the four races. They include junior colleges, plus NAIA, Division III, Division II and Division I teams. Among those expected to toe the line are representatives from powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Appalachian State, Auburn, Baylor, Belmont, Central Florida, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Mercer, Mississippi State, Samford and the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). Former Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech will also be among the field.
Approximately 350 runners will be in each of MSU's races.
Coach Dixon has entered 20 individuals, 10 men and 10 women. The group includes: doctoral student
Aidan Massey; seniors
Brady Baker, Thompson and
Aidan Whitsell; juniors
Brody Coleman,
Liam Parido and Richendollar; sophomore
Lance Garner; and freshmen Hagan and
Lucas Simpson for the men. Campbell, sophomores
Josey Corbin,
Sydney Filippazzo and
Isabelle Shearer; plus freshmen
Audrey Adkins,
Abby Bastin,
Kaitlyn Bradshaw,
Emma Coakley,
Parker Mentzer and Lamb will represent the women. Everyone but Thompson ran at Eastern Kentucky. This will be Thompson's first meet of the year.
Live results will be available at the link:
https://live.xpresstiming.com/meets/77259.
A live video will also be available at the link:
https://shorturl.at/zyuGU.
After returning, Morehead State will take two weeks off before getting back into action at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.
