LU Big South favorites
Up to speed — Jared Cornfield and the cross-country team have been ahead of the competition all season so far. Photo credit: Les Schofer
Cross Country men’s and women’s teams have strong production up to this point
The Liberty Flames men’s and women’s cross country teams have started their course for the fall 2011 season.
The Flames officially started their season Sept. 2 with an appearance at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational and Sept. 17 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational/Big South Preview. In their second appearance at the Invitational, the men placed first and the women placed fifth as a team.
Individually, South Alabama redshirt junior transfer Zac Edwards finished the meet in first place with a time of 24:42 in the 8k. Redshirt junior and the defending Big South women’s cross country champion Jennifer Klugh finished fourth with a time of 18:09 in the 5k.
Following the meet, Edwards and Klugh were selected as the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. Edwards also received the weekly award for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week.
The Flames will compete in the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. at 4 p.m. Sept. 30.
Following the Charlotte invitational meet, the Flames cross country season will include the Big South Cross Country Championship in Conway, S.C. Oct. 29 and the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championship in Louisville, Ky. Nov. 12. The team will compete in nine meets this season.
According to Libertyflames.com, the Lady Flames have been picked as a favorite to win the Big South Cross Country title for the third straight year.
The Lady Flames have also been ranked No. 14 in the Southeast by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
This season’s roster features a number of returners including Khristina Kanagy, David Ricksecker and Klugh. The roster has also experienced some new additions with Edwards and freshman Jacy Christiansen.
“It has definitely been a year of change for us,” Coach Brent Tolsma said. “We have a pretty good number of new people.”
In addition to Edwards and Christiansen, nine freshmen runners have joined the roster for this season.