Oct. 30, 2009

OXFORD, Ohio - Having finished second four of the last five years at the Mid-American Conference Championship, the Miami University men’s cross country team will look to take the next step Saturday at the 2009 MAC Championship in Athens, Ohio. The 8K men’s race is set for 11 a.m. ET and will be run on the Ohio University Golf Course along the banks of the Hocking River.

The RedHawks took second at last year’s MAC Championship, finishing 14 points behind Eastern Michigan, who is the four-time defending champions. Senior Kevin Silver (Beachwood, Ohio), who has been Miami’s top finisher in every race this year, was runner-up at last year’s MAC Championship and is the top individual returner from the 2008 race, as the Eagles lost two individual MAC champions (from the 2007 and 2008 races) to graduation. Fellow senior Paul Krebs (Kettering, Ohio) took 13th at last year’s MAC Championship as the RedHawks’ third finisher behind Pat Sovacool, who graduated.

“Our goal every year is to be in the top three and roll the dice and see what happens on that day, but at least every year we know going in that we have a chance, if things go right, for us to be there and win the MAC,” head coach Warren Mandrell said. “Year in and year out Miami is always one of the teams that is going to be at the front.”

Last time out on Oct. 17, Miami finished 25th of 34 teams at Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. in a strong field that featured eight ranked teams. The RedHawks were the top finisher among MAC schools at the race, led by Silver’s 95th place finish, while junior Michael Perry (Cincinnati, Ohio) was second for the ’Hawks in 99th.

Of the nine MAC schools that have a men’s cross country team, four are ranked regionally by the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association. Kent State is 10th in the Great Lakes Region poll, followed by Miami in 11th, Eastern Michigan in 12th and Central Michigan 13th.

Historically, the RedHawks have won more league titles than any other school, claiming 20 conference crowns, but none since 1998. Since Miami’s MAC title in 1998, either Central Michigan or Eastern Michigan has won the MAC Championship each year. Eastern Michigan ranks second behind Miami in all-time conference titles with 14. The last RedHawk to claim the individual MAC title was Dan Huling in 2005 as Miami boasts 13 individual MAC champions overall.

Following the MAC Championship, the RedHawks will compete at the Great Lakes Regional in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Nov. 14, when Miami will look to qualify for the NCAA Championship.

--MURedHawks.com--

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