Returning Cougar Runners Get Their Shot At Idaho Invitational
September 8, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. - Most of the returning members from last year's Washington
State cross country squads will get their first racing opportunity of the
fall Friday, Sept. 11 during the Idaho Invitational.
Competition begins at 5:15 p.m. with the women's 2.5-mile race followed by
the men's 4-mile race at 6 p.m. Both races will be held at the U of I golf
course. The Cougars will join teams from Boise State, Eastern Washington
and host Idaho.
"We'll swing the other way around this week by racing the returnees and
resting the freshmen," said Cougar head coach Dr. James Li. "Again, this
early in the season, I want to give people some work and evaluate. The
competition will be better this week."
Li hopes the returning Cougars can enjoy the same success posted by the
freshmen at last week's Spokane Harrier Classic at Whitworth College. WSU
garnered both team titles and freshman Oscar Franco-Parra (Portland,
Ore./Sunset) posted a 17-second victory in the men's 6,000-meter race with
a time of 21-minutes, 21 seconds. And April Gagner (Yelm, Wash./Yelm)
finished as runner-up in the women's 4,000-meter race that had the Cougars'
five scorers, all frosh, within 40 seconds of each other.
This week WSU's men will compete with a pair of brother combinations, Jon
and Justin Murray (Stanwood, Wash./Lakewood) and Eric and Simon Kamau
(Nairobi, Kenya). Jon, Eric and Chris Charles (Bainbridge Island,
Wash./Bainbridge) are three returning seniors who each were top seven
runners for the Cougars last fall. "All of our guys have looked good in
training and most look stronger than last season," said Li. "The Murray
brothers will be our sensations this year."
Kimberly Schmolka (Port Orchard, Wash./South Kitsap) will be the lone
senior competing for the Cougar women at Idaho. Schmolka, along with
sophomores Megan Maynard (Langley, Wash./South Whidbey) and Crystal
Malgesini (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish) will look to build on the momentum
of successful track seasons.
The Cougars will be without two key performers, namely junior Bernard Lagat
and senior Joanne Hunsinger. Lagat, last year's Pacific-10 champion, had
an extensive summer of track competition. He will likely make his first
appearance at the Mountain West Classic Sept. 26. Hunsinger has recovered
from a slight stress fracture (foot) and will need other week of training
according to Li.
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