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The Murray State News

The Murray State News

Murray State cross country looking for major improvement in 2019

Murray+State+men%E2%80%99s+and+women%E2%80%99s+cross+country+teams+huddle+up+before+their+respective+meets.+%28Photo+courtesy+of+Racer+Athletics%29
Murray State men’s and women’s cross country teams huddle up before their respective meets. (Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics)

Nick Kendall

Staff Writer

[email protected]

After injuries, rough conference finishes and graduation, both Murray State men’s and women’s cross country teams plan to bounce back in a huge way.

An 8th-overall finish for the women and 9th-overall finish for the men in the conference championship is not where Head Coach Adam Kiesler wants the teams to be. However, he believes that will all change this season.

“I think we’re going to improve,” Kiesler said. “I think we’ll see that improvement not just this year, but for the upcoming years. It’s not where we wanted to be last year, but then again, we’re a little bit banged up. So hopefully we’re a little bit more fresh and come OVC time we can maybe be top five, top three.”

Kiesler credits this freshness to the 2019 recruiting class which has adjusted well to the program.

“They’ve been here since their first practices on the 15th,” Kiesler said. “Now it comes with the stress of class, academics, practice, sleep, having a social life, all that type of stuff. I think they’ve done a very good job of adjusting. Cross country is a priority for all of them, so I think they want to make sure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do to help this team moving forward.”

He also praises the upperclassmen returning this year, but he’s now searching for runners on both squads who will constantly help the Racers’ efforts during the season.

“Last year, we did graduate our No. 1 on both the men’s and women’s side,” Kiesler said. “So again, we’re looking for people to step up to be able to replace them. Especially on the men’s side, I think the last couple years we’ve had a clear cut No. 1 and 2. I think this year we should have a clear cut No. 1 in Zach Balleau but I think two to five after that really can be a toss up each week. Then on the women’s side, it’s nice to have Emma Creviston back. She’s a sophomore, so if our No. 1 or 2 is pretty young, I think that bodes pretty well for ourselves.”

Kiesler is also glad to have sophomore Dani Wright back after she suffered a plantar fascia injury on the bottom of her foot.

“It was one of those things where just a freak, wrong step at the wrong time,” Kiesler said. “I think the end of her track season was encouraging and some of the workouts that she’s been a part of through the first week or so since we’ve been back have been good as well.”

Murray State will host its first home meet of the season at Miller Golf Course on Friday, Oct. 18.

“We hope to put on a good show for those people who are going to come out and watch,” Kiesler said. “This will be my 10th year, and we’ve never run a regular-season cross country meet here so that’ll be exciting.”

The Racers’ first meet, for both men and women, will be at Belmont on Friday, Aug. 30.

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