Govs attempt to stir things up at OVC Championship

APSU Sports Information: APSU Cross Country

Richmond, KY – Austin Peay State University men’s cross country team is set to attack at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship’s 9:30am, eight-kilometer race, Saturday, at The Arlington Golf Course.

The 2011 regular season for the Governors was with the Governors capturing back-to-back team victories at the Thorobreds Stampede and the Fast Cats Classic. The Thorobreds Classic also saw the Governors only individual victory when junior Geofrey Kosgei won the event with a time of 29:41.46. The recent success could not have come at a better time as the Govs now are set to run for the OVC Championship.

“Well, this is the meet we point the whole season towards and we are excited to see how it turns out,”said head coach Doug Molnar. “We are healthy, well rested, and in peak shape. Our last two meets for the men have been strong, but this week will definitely be a challenge for the men.”

Senior Boniface Yator and junior Geofrey Kosgei will lead the pack for the Governors as they attempt to improve on their fifth-place team finish at the championships a year ago. In five meets this season Yator is averaging a 19th-place finish with three top-15 finishes (fourth-Fast Cats Classic, sixth-Fleet Feet Sports/Earl Jacoby Memorial, 11th-GSU Invitational). Kosgei in six meets this season is averaging a 25th-place finish with three top-15 finishes (first-KSU Thorobred Classic, third Fast Cats Classic, 13th-GSU Invitational).

Host Eastern Kentucky represents the Govs biggest challenge as the Colonels have won five-straight OVC championships. The Colonels are returning three First-Team All-OVC Runners from a year ago, including Soufiane Bouchikhi, the 2010 OVC Runner of the Year.

“Nationally-ranked EKU is the heavy favorite to defend their title, but I think we have the ability to get up in the mix and stir some things up,” said Molnar.