MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in the Big 12 Championships, Saturday Nov. 1, in Ames, Iowa. The championship returns to Ames where it was held for the inaugural season in 1996. The women’s 6K race will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the men’s 8K race at 11 a.m.

Colorado’s men’s and women’s teams have won the event every year of the Big 12’s existence accept in 1998 when K-State’s women captured the title. Among the field this year will be four men’s teams and three women’s teams ranked in the top 30 according to the latest NCAA Division I national rankings.

LAST TIME OUT

Beverly Ramos and the women’s team finished 21^st overall at the Pre-NCAA Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Ramos finished ninth overall crossing the line with a 6K time of 20:20.6. With the performance she set a personal best for the second straight event this season. Emily Dittemore, Megan-Anne Perrin and Boglarka Bozzay all ran life-time bests at the 6K distance as well.

Alex Umberger continued to lead the way for the Wildcats in Terre Haute helping the men’s team finish 40^th. Umberger ran an 8K time of 26:14.1 and finished 230^th overall. Jack Sachse ran in just his second event of the season and finishes as the second runner for the Wildcats followed by senior Danny Schneider.

HISTORY AT THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

Women’s Last Three Years

Year       Finish                     Top Finisher                                         Site

2007       12th (257)             Liliani Mendez (13, 21:36.39)            Lubbock, Texas

2006       12th (290)             Liliani Mendez (15, 21:47.48)            Lawrence, Kan.

2005       10th (294)             Stephanie Lavin (55, 23:07)              Waco, Texas

Men’s Last Three Years

Year       Finish                     Top Finisher                                         Site

2007       11th (318)             Alex Umberger (43, 26:12.55)           Lubbock, Texas

2006       12th (331)             Alex Umberger (64, 26:27.30)           Lawrence, Kan.

2005       8th (234)                Joseph Moore (31, 24:59)                 Waco, Texas

RAMOS’ SUCCESS

The junior from Puerto Rico has finished in the top ten in all four events this season including three first place finishes in the first three races. She dominated her first two races of the season winning both by an average of 30 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. The Big 12 has selected Ramos twice this season as the women’s runner of the week, making three for her career.

Results will be posted at www.kstatesports.com as soon as they become available.