Men’s and women’s cross country preview

The SIUC men’s cross county team is trying to come back from a disappointing seventh-place finish at the Indiana Invitational last Saturday, but the Salukis may have to do it with out Andy Bosak.

The Saluki men and women race Saturday at the 22nd Saluki Invitational, where the women’s team will attempt to win its fifth-straight Invitational.

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Bosak has been ill since last Saturday’s meet at Indiana, and men’s coach Bill Cornell said the team will not know about Bosak’s status until today.

Bosak may have to sit out, Cornell said. We won’t know until (today), but we want him to be healthy at the (Nov. 1 Missouri Valley) conference meet.

Despite the possible loss, Cornell is positive about his team’s chances.

We can still win the meet as long as we have enough depth, Cornell said. It will be very competitive, and the team who has the most depth will win.

Sophomore runner Matt McClelland said the team has a chance to win as long as the Salukis stay focused.

It should be a good meet, McClelland said. It won’t be a pushover, but we are capable of winning it if we work hard.

The Salukis will be led by sophomore Jenny Monaco, the top runner for the team in all three meets this season. Monaco had a second-place finish out of 33 runners with a time of 18 minutes and 37.4 seconds at Carbondale on Sept. 6. The women finished second behind the University of Kansas.

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Women’s coach Don DeNoon said SIUC has a good chance at winning the meet and keeping its streak alive.

Anything is possible with the number of teams in the meet, but I think we have a good shot at winning, DeNoon said. Tennessee is one team that has a crack at beating us.

Sophomore runner Leah Hofferkamp said the team is looking forward to the meet and some action.

I think we’re all pretty pumped, Hofferkamp said. We’re looking forward to the meet because we didn’t have one last week, so we’re ready.

The SIUC men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete Saturday in the Saluki Invitational. The women’s meet will start at 10 a.m. followed by the men’s race at 10:35 a.m. The meet will be west of Abe Martin Field.

The meet will feature 14 teams, including the University of Memphis, Western Illinois University, Murray State University and Washington University-St. Louis.