KENNESAW,Ga.- Following a ninth place finish at the Crimson Classic, the women’s cross country team is back in action Oct 2 at the Greater Louisville Classic. Participating in the contest for the first time, the squad looks to make their mark against some of the elite teams from around the United States.

In a field of 35 teams and 953 individual participants, the Owls will have their hands full with runners from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. Since so many athletes are competing in the race, host school University of Louisville has divided the women’s field into three separate races; gold, blue and silver. Kennesaw State will be running in the gold race, which begins at 10:15 a.m.

“There is a very large and competitive field for this meet,” Sims said.  “We need to get out fast, run hard in the middle and hit the finish in a sprint. We are looking for some good times to take us into the next four weeks leading up to conference.”

Running in only their third contest of the season, the Owls hope to capitalize on their fifth place finish at Chattanooga and ninth place in Alabama. All-Conference runner Mackenzie Howe looks to keep pace after a first place finish at the PowerAde Invitational in Chattanooga and a second place, personal record performance at the Crimson Classic in Alabama.

“I am extremely excited to race in a competition this size,” Howe said. “Having so many schools to compete against will really give a chance to see where I stand among some of the larger programs.”

Supporting Howe will be sophomore Stephanie Sawyer and freshmen Haley Carson, Heather Morris and Alison Wald. In the largest Crimson Classic field in its history, the quartet was able to find itself all in the top 100. Coach Sims knows this weekend will really show what the younger portion of the team can do.

“Going against such a large group is good for our younger ladies,” Sims said. “Morris has had a good week of training and should run strong for the Lady Owls. Carson, Sawyer and Wald are all getting stronger and should have a good outing as well. Hopefully some personal records will come this weekend.”



Meet Quick Facts


Event Name: Greater Louisville Classic       

Host: University of Louisville

Location: E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park

Start Time: 10:15 A.M.

Distance: 5k

2009 Owl Finish, Score: N/A

2009 Owl Top Finishers: N/A

Schools Participating (37): Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech Univ., Middle Tennessee State Univ., Lewis Univ., Eastern KY Univ. ,Columbus State Univ., Univ. of Missouri , Shippensburg Univ., Univ. of Miami (FL), Grand Valley State Univ.,  East Carolina Univ., Univ. New York at Albany, Univ. of Louisville, Univ. of Tennessee – Chattanooga, Colorado School of Mines, Southern Illinois Univ., Vanderbilt Univ., Univ. of Georgia, Elon Univ., Bellarmine Univ., Ferris State Univ., Univ. of North Carolina – Greensboro, Harding Univ., Washington Univ. (MO), Univ. of South Carolina – Upstate, Queens Univ. (NC), Univ. of Southern Indiana, Arkansas State Univ., Western KY Univ., Mississippi State Univ., Univ. of Kentucky, Illinois State Univ., Edinboro Univ., Univ. of Mississippi, Northern KY Univ., Davidson College, Western Washington Univ.