Warrensburg, Mo. (Oct. 17, 2000) -- Central Missouri State University cross country coach Kirk Pedersen is hoping his men's and women's cross country teams can duplicate their 1999 performances and repeat as Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association champions this weekend.

The 2000 MIAA cross country championships will be conducted Saturday, Oct. 21, at CMSU's Keth Memorial Golf Course at Pertle Springs. The men's race (8,000 meters) is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with the women's race (6,000 meters) to follow at 11:30 a.m. Admission will be $4 for adults and $2 for students.

The Mules are aiming for their sixth straight men's conference title. In winning last year's championship, they placed all five runners in the top 12 to score 35 points and outdistance runner-up Missouri Southern State College, which had 50 points.

Three of those five runners, including individual champion Vladimir Golias, are back for Saturday's meet. Paul Bennett placed seventh and Joe Mack was 12th last year. Also returning for CMSU are Jay Hill, Brayce Forsha and Joe Conley, who placed 16th, 19th and 24th, respectively, at last year's meet.

Pedersen expects tough competition from Missouri Southern, Truman State University and Pittsburg State University. In the Oct. 16 NCAA Division II men's cross country rankings, Missouri Southern was ninth, Central Missouri 11th, Truman State 12th and Pittsburg State 13th, while Northwest Missouri State University was 23rd to give the MIAA five teams in the top 25.

Missouri Southern returns last year's number-two finisher in Petri KyKyri, as well as Larry Boswell, who placed 13th. Truman returns all five of last year's top runners, all of whom placed in the top 21. Andy Doering was sixth, Ben Rosario was eighth, Matt Helbig was 10th, Nick Blackburn was 15th and Brian McQueary was 21st.

The Jennies captured their first MIAA title last year, edging Pittsburg State by one point 56-57. All five of their runners finished in the top 20 last year and all five of those return for this year's meet. Rachel Harvey was fourth, Amber Neal seventh, Erica Foltz eighth, Carrie Riedel 18th and Tonia Neumann 19th.

Pittsburg State returns just two of last year's top five runners: Jeanette Mott, who finished third, and Hannah Roberts, who placed 20th. Truman, which was third with 70 points last year, figures to make a strong bid for the title, as the Bulldogs return their top five runners from a year ago. Beth Luebbering was second, Leah Zidon was fifth, Emily Komiskey was 17th, Jennifer Tesmer was 21st and Brandy Leffler was 25th. Last year's individual women's champion, Tara Hudspeth of Emporia State University, returns to defend her title.

In the Oct. 16 Division II women's rankings, the Jennies were 10th, Truman State was 11th and Pittsburg State was 14th.