Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University men's and women's cross country teams have been picked by the Sun Belt Conference coaches to sweep the 2011 league championships this Saturday when they play host at Kereiakes Park.
The Lady Toppers received 10 first-place votes, while Florida Atlantic picked up one first-place vote. The WKU men received seven first-place nods, while Arkansas-Little Rock received three and Middle Tennessee picked up one.
The Lady Toppers are currently riding the longest conference winning streak in the nation at 17 in-a-row. Having won every Sun Belt Conference cross country, indoor and outdoor team title since 2006, the WU women are looking to extend that streak on Saturday with a sixth-straight league cross country title. Since the SBC began sponsoring women's cross country in 1985, the Lady Toppers have won 16 team titles, a winning percentage of .615. The WKU women return three veteran all-SBC cross country runners in Marion Kandie – who won the individual title last season – Michelle Finn and Vasity Chemweno. Also returning for the women are veterans Monica Akello, Madison Hale and Brianne Porter, and adding depth to help the Lady Toppers is newcomer Anna Reddin.
The Hilltoppers are coming off a 2010 cross country season where they finished fourth in the SBC. Most recently at the SBC outdoor meet in May, the WKU men claimed their fourth-straight spring championship. The team returns all-SBC cross country runner Deus Rwaheru, as well as all-SBC middle-distance specialist David Mokone who is competing in his first cross country season. Steepler Kyle Chettleburgh, veterans Landon Taylor and Brett Austin, and freshmen Peter Okwera and Sean Hurd will also be running for the Tops, hoping to hoist the first SBC cross country title for WKU since 2008.
"We expect an outstanding meet at Kereiakes Park on Saturday," says head coach Erik Jenkins. "There are several team in the Sun Belt with very talented individuals who will be seek top honors. We hope to have a great crowd and an exciting atmosphere."
WKU has swept the men's and women's Sun Belt championships seven times, and have combined for 24 cross country titles. The men's 8,000-meter race is scheduled to begin at 10:00am (CT), while the women's 5,000-meter race is set for 11:00am.
Men's Predicted Order of Finish
1. WKU (7) - 115 pts
2. UALR (3) - 111 pts
3. MTSU (1) - 102 pts
4. ULM - 79 pts
5. USA - 75 pts
6. UNT - 57 pts
7. ASU - 49 pts
8. FIU - 45 pts
9. FAU - 42 pts
10. Troy - 31 pts
11. ULL - 20 pts
Women's Predicted Order of Finsh
1. WKU (10) - 120 pts
2. FAU (1) - 97 pts
2. ASU - 97 pts
4. UALR - 87 pts
5. MTSU - 71 pts
6. UNT - 69 pts
7. USA - 63 pts
8. FIU - 42 pts
9. Troy - 32 pts
10. ULM - 27 pts
11.ULL - 21 pts
