Cross Country Team Hosts Johnny Morriss Invitational
9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 2, 2009
The University of Houston cross country team will host the Johnny Morriss Cross Country Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4 at the University's Intramural Fields.
The women will begin a 3,200-meter race at 6:45 p.m., and the men will begin the 4,800-meter race at 7:15 p.m. The UH Intramural Fields are located off 1-45, on the northeast corner of Cullen Boulevard and Elgin Street. Friday's meet will include teams from Houston Baptist, Texas Southern and Sam Houston State.
The meet will be used to prepare the newcomers for the rest of the season and head coach Ryan Turner is confident going into the meet.
"You never know what to expect from the first meet, but I think we are more prepared than we were at this time last year," Turner said.
Turner has a specific goal in mind for the women's team front-runner, returning sophomore Stephanie Aldea, for this meet.
"My goal is for Stephanie to support her teammates," Turner explained "We want her to be at her best when it matters the most. I'm not worried about how individuals do, but how the team does as a whole."
Others returning for the women's team include sophomores Starla Garcia, Ciera Johnson, Megan Munoz and Brandi Witti. Jasmine Trier is a returning junior and Erica Hannemann rounds out the team as the only senior.
Three freshman are coming in for the women's team; Kathryn Ducommun, Jessica Stewart and Morgan Swan.
On the men's side there are seven returning sophomores; Cole Bessner, Derrick Joe, Anthony Jordan, Stephan Keller, Nate Pineda, Jesse Rodriguez and Andres Santaolalla.
Joining the team this season are incoming freshmen Carlos Falcon, David Smith and Ryan Wonser.
Coming up next the Cougars will make the trip to College Station to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Players Mentioned
