CROSS-COUNTRY SELECTED SECOND
The Lincoln University women’s cross-country team was picked for a second place finish in the Heartland Conference preseason poll. Dallas Baptist University was chosen first with Montana State University-Billings tabbed for third in the preseason ranking. The rest of the poll consisted of No. 4 St. Mary’s, No. 5 Incarnate Word, No. 6 St. Edward’s and No. 7 Oklahoma Panhandle State. Voting was performed by each head coach and sports information director from the seven schools in the Heartland Conference who sponsor women’s cross country.
The 2005 Heartland Conference champions, Western New Mexico have left the Heartland and moved into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The 2006 Heartland Conference Championship meet is scheduled for October 21 at 10:00 a.m. in Billings, Mont. Montana State University-Billings is the host of the 2006 Heartland Conference Cross-Country Championships. The 2006-07 school year is the Yellowjackets last, as in 2007-08 they are moving to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Although 2006-07 Heartland Conference provisional members (Texas A&M International {Laredo, Texas}, University of Texas-Permian Basin {Odessa, Texas} and Newman University {Wichita, Kan.}) have cross-country, they are not eligible for conference championships or postseason conference honors.
Lincoln University won the inaugural Heartland Conference women’s cross-country championship in the fall of 2004. In that six kilometer race (Oct. 23, 2004), the Blue Tigers placed four runners in the top seven to win the team championship.
Returning to lead the Blue Tigers in 2006 are Nessa Paul, who finished second in the Heartland Conference Championship last autumn and Meleshia Spencer, who came in fifth. Also back for Lincoln University are Jamie Thomas (No. 19) and Kerry-Ann Robinson (No. 32).
The Blue Tigers begin their 2006 season on Sept. 9 at the Miner Invitational in Rolla, Mo.
