The women’s cross country team looks to win its fifth straight season opener at the annual Strohman Dental/MSU Stampede race this weekend at the old Hawk Ridge Golf Course.
Runner Maranda Rodriguez, sophomore in kinesiology, said, “We are hosting this meet and we are wanting to show all teams out there what we are bringing to the table.”
The competition is featuring some stand-out athletes from opposing schools. Texas Wesleyan will be featuring Brenda Filipe, who finished 27th at NAIA nationals last year. Chelsea Gonzales from Texas A&M-Kingsville carried her team to a first place finish at this past weekend’s race hosted by Texas Lutheran University. East Central’s Corbin Ubben took sixth at last year’s race. ECU is looking to surprise many with its young roster.
Michelle Krezonoski, pre-medicine senior, said she isn’t too worried about the competition. “We have a very fit top eight girls so I believe that on any given day, anyone can be our number one runner.”
In years past, the race was held at the Memorial Stadium Athletic Complex soccer fields. Featuring four teams including Texas Wesleyan, Texas A&M-Kingsville, East Central University and Midwestern State, this year the course is changing to same location as the Lone Star Conference championships, Hawk Ridge golf course.
Krezonoski said, “This year in preparation for our conference meet we are having it at the conference course to get familiar with the hills and terrain.”
Coach Koby Styles is hungry to make a trip back to the National Championship. MSU’s last appearance at the National Championship was in 2011. “All of our training is geared towards winning a Lone Star Conference Championship this year, which is hosted by Midwestern State University and securing a trip back to the National Championships,” Styles said.
“It is great to get back in the cross country mentality of working as a team to win conference, regional and national titles,” Krezonoski said.
“It is very important we perform well, because we do not get a chance to host many meets at home, so we want to give the fans a great show. But we know we have bigger fish to fry later on down the road,” Styles said.
RETURNING SENIORS
- Kim Krezonoski, pre-medicine
- Michelle Krezonoski, pre-medicine
- Lucia Trejo, exercise physiology
- Danielle Chavarria, business management
- Emma Ramirez, athletic training
- Gabby Ruiz, nursing
- Cara Mack, mathematics
