GOLDEN SUNS SET TO RUN SATURDAY AT 2009 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Cross Country team is set to compete for a conference title this coming Saturday at the 2009 Gulf South Conference Country Championships, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Veteran’s Park in Hoover, Ala.

This year’s meet, which will be hosted by the Hoover High School and the Spain Park High School Track and Field Booster Clubs, features 13 women’s teams. The 5,000-meter women’s race will begin 30 minutes following the men’s race, which will start at 9 a.m.

“We’re excited to run at this year’s GSC Championship Meet,” Golden Suns Head Coach Tom Aspel said. “I feel like if we run well, we have a chance to challenge for the top spot. Our girls have run well all season and are ready to compete this weekend.”

The Golden Suns, who finished 3rd at last season’s GSC Championships, enter this year’s meet ranked third in the latest USTFCCCA South Region Poll. In addition, Tech is the second GSC squad ranked as Harding, the four-time defending GSC Champions, are ranked second.

Leading the way for Tech is freshman Bailee Miller (Dover. Ark.) and senior Melissa Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.). Miller, who has been tabbed as the GSC Women’s Runner of the Week five times this season, has been Tech’s top finisher in every meet this year, including having two first place finishes, while Pollreis, who was named a First-Team All-GSC selection last season after finishing fifth at the 2008 GSC Championships, has had two Top 15 finishes, including a fourth place finish at the Harding Lady Bison Stampede. 

Among the other competitors expected to run for Tech on Saturday are junior Lauren Karnitz (DeSoto, Kansas), who was named a First-Team All-GSC selection in 2008 after finishing sixth at last season’s GSC Meet, junior Stormi Richardson (Lumberton, Texas), junior Michelle Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.) and sophomore Jenna Siebenmorgen (Fort Smith, Ark.).

Harding, the four-time defending GSC Champions, is the favorite heading into the meet as the Lady Bison are ranked 24th nationally and second in the South Region. In addition to Tech and Harding, Alabama-Huntsville, West Florida, West Alabama, Valdosta State and West Georgia are also ranked in this week’s USTFCCCA South Region poll.

                                                            -- Tech Athletics --