Oct. 17, 2002
WACO, Texas - The Baylor cross country squads are preparing to compete in the Asics/Pacesetter Pre-Nationals this weekend at the LaVern Gibson Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind. Indiana State is hosting the event, which is being held at the site of the 2002 NCAA Championships.
Overall there are 97 women's teams competing. The Baylor squad was randomly selected to run in the White Race, which begins at 11:35 a.m. on Saturday. Among the 37 teams in the White Race are four squads ranked among the Top 10 in the latest FinishLynx Poll. Stanford and Michigan State enter the race as the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked squads in the nation, respectively. NC State is ranked sixth and Arizona State carries a ranking of eighth. In all, 13 White Race teams are ranked in the Top 30.
The Baylor women are hoping to build on their success as they face top competition. Freshman Angela Marvin earned Big 12 Runner of the Week honors this week for her second place showing at the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday (10/12). Senior Debbie Thornhill has paced the Bears this season, recording individual first place finishes as well as leading Baylor to the top place in the first two meets of the year. She has been the top finisher for the Bears in each of the meets she has competed in.
There are a total of 90 teams competing on the men's 8,000-meter course. The Baylor men will be competing in the White Race, which is scheduled to start at 12:50 p.m. Ten of the 35 teams competing in the men's White Race are ranked in the latest Mondo Poll. The Bears will be running against third-ranked Colorado as well as No. 7 Georgetown and No. 9 Weber State.
A full Baylor men's squad has not competed since Sept. 27, taking seventh overall at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Junior Kyle King paced the Bears in that race, taking 17th place with a time of 27:05 on the 8K course. Freshman Bo Price also has turned in solid times. He won the individual title in his first two collegiate meets, leading Baylor to a first place finish at the Rice Cross Country Meet and leading a "B" squad to a second place finish are the Rice Invitational.
