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Show .,r- THE UNNERSITY JOURNAL • SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • TiiURSDAY, SEPTEMBER ~. 1998 ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.=-:___ _ : _ ~-=--.:!:~ ~ ~- 9 m1IIBID)§)RO)ffiT§ 0 n] Harriers to open season at Flagstaff TI1e season lhunders open for the SUU cross country team on Sept. 5, as the 'Birds compete at the Northern Arizona Invitational in Flagstaff, Ariz.. ·n1e NAU trip has been a good season opener for the 'Birds over th<: past few years, and the team will compete against som<.: slrong teams, including Adams Scace. New Mexico Highland,;, Western State and che host Lumbc.:rjacks. TI1e men's squad emen; th<: 1998 season as the defending Mid-Continent Conference champions. Senior Jody Benson, the 1997 Mid-Conference cross country champion, will sic om this season as a red-shirt. Filling the void will be sophomores Curtis Moore and Zak James, ,vl10 have remrned to Somhern Utah after serving LDS missions. Head Coach Eric Houle said he fl:cls the team has a chance al a lop ranking next season with Benson in the mL-...:, and wants co give the newcomers time to get ready before nc,n season. The last time these two competed for the Thunderbirds, they helped to bring the title of American West Conference champion to SUU in 1995. Moore won the individual title, while James finished third. Both are using this season as a tuneup for the f1.1turc . ·'This team is young and we had co red-shirt a couple of people," said Head Coach Eric Houle. "Giving Zak James and Curtis Moore a year under their belts will benefit us for our future." Joining Curtis Moore and James in the top five are sophomore Mark Wright, who finished ninth at the conference championships, senior Adam Moore, who finished 15th, and junior Adam Brown, who is expected to make an impact this season. The women 's team has been deemed "the s'urprisc team" in Southern Utah a~llletics by Hottle. Coming off a 1997 season, which saw them finish second in the conference, Houle has high expectations for this season. '" We have a lot of talent on this team," Houle said. "We have a couple of state champions in Robyn Adams (3000 meters) and Jandee Hood (mile)." Wendy Allen , last season's Mid-Conference Newcomer of the Year, returns to pace the team as will fellow alJ. conference performers Teresa Rice and Mary Ann Shauerhammer and sophomore Rachael Porter. Sophomore transfer Kelly Fugal, along ,vith Adams and Hood make up the top seven this season. "I tl1ink we are in the top two in till'. confcrcncc," Houle said. "We haYe a young team, but it !> :1 really tough team and the omlook is gootl for the futur<.: ... The fic.:ld for the NAU Invitational is a calcmed one. Northern Arizona finished second behind Weber State in the Big Sky Confcrcnc<.: 1:t.s1 st:ason, and is picked LO battle near the top of the Dig Sky again this season. Adams Stace comes in as one of the prem i<.:rt: programs this season in Division fl as well. Both will giv<.: I Joule a good understanding of how goo<l his tca.m could be. "We'll be fine on the men's side/ Houk: said. "On the women's side, it will be good to sec how w e compare with Northern A1izona. We're young, but ifwe can close the margin with tl1em, it coulc.l mean a ranking and give us an idea for how we'll stack up in the conference." Next up for the 'Birds is a trip out West, competing at the Ou-Irvine [nvitational on Sept._12 in Irvine, Calif. 0 ANY SEAT IN THE HOUSE AT HALF PRICE! Present I.D. at Tuacahn Box Office · Call for Ticket Availability -. ~, r ~ pl l~:\l '-';J]i. ~S'tt. ' 1· t l~ ) "..~ v·~ ~ ~ DAZZLING OUTDOOR MUSICAL REVUE 1-800-SHOW-UTAH AMPHITHEATRE NOW THRU OCT. 20 • 8:00 p.m. (NEAR ST. GEORGE) ........ . . .. .. . . .. .... . . .......... .... ..... . . .. . IVINS, UTAH |