The 2003 versions of the Kansas State University men's and women's cross country teams will open the season at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, when they travel to Tulsa, Okla., for the University of Tulsa Hurricane Festival. The men will run a four-mile race at the event while the women will compete in a two-mile race.

"This short course race allows some of our runners to get a taste of collegiate competition for the first time," head coach Randy Cole said. "This race will serve as an opportunity for us to train and help the team build towards the end of the season."

In the meet, the Wildcats will compete against teams from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Tulsa.

Junior Mathew Chesang returns to lead the men's squad during the 2003 season. Chesang was the top Wildcat runner during the 2002 season, earning All-Big 12 Conference honors with a seventh place finish at the Big 12 Championships. In addition, Chesang narrowly missed a berth to the 2002 NCAA Championships when he finished one spot out of the top ten at the Midwest Regionals, placing eleventh at the event.

While the K-State men's team returns their top runner from a year ago, the women's squad will need to fill the shoes of their number one runner, departed four-time All-American Amy Mortimer. However, junior Trisha Culbertson looks ready to fill the role as the Wildcats top returning runner from a year ago.

Culbertson had a strong 2002 season for the Wildcats, finishing 30th at the Big 12 Championships while placing 11th at the prestigious Chile Pepper Invitational.

Following the Hurricane Festival, the Wildcats will return to host their only home meet of the season, the 2003 Kansas State University Invitational on Saturday, September 13, in Topeka, Kan.

K-StateSports Cross Country

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