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By Joel Flom
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 27, 1996
The Arizona men's and women's cross country teams will put their perfect records on the line when they head to Montana tomorrow to compete in the Mountain West Classic in Missoula.The event, which will be held at the University of Montana Golf Course, will have Arizona competing against teams from Brigham Young, Gonzaga, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State, Oregon, Texas and Washington State. The men will run an 8,000-meter course, while the women run 6,000 meters.
Junior Bob Keino, senior Jon Pillow, sophomore Jeff McLarty, freshman Micheil Jones, junior Jon Lansa, freshman Jeremy Lyon and senior Chad Wenger will run for the men. Last year at the Classic the Arizona men placed third, with Brigham Young taking home the team title.
Keino finished second in the race last year, followed by senior Margarito Casillas (15th), McLarty (19th), Pillow (27th) and Wenger (75th). Casillas will not compete because of a sore knee. He is expected to return for the Wildcats' next meet, Oct.12 at the Murray Keatinge Invitational in Orono, Maine.
Sophomore Amy Skiersez, senior Viola Schaffer, sophomore Emily Nay, freshman Kristen Parrish, junior Virginia Camacho, senior Tone Bratteng and senior Kelly Chavez will run for the women. The women won the Classic last year, with Skiersez capturing the individual title, while Schaffer placed 4th, Nay 12th and Camacho 27th.
This is the Wildcats' second meet of the season. Both teams were victorious in their first competition, the Jammin' Invitational in Brea, Calif. The team is expecting to see tougher competition in Montana.
"On the women's side, the battle for first place should be between us and BYU," UA head coach Dave Murray said. "BYU is ranked fourth in the latest polls. Oregon will be also a factor. They are eighth in the pre-season rankings."
In the pre-season poll, Arizona's women were ranked 11th. In College Sports Magazine's pre-season poll, they were ranked 9th.
"Our men will be one of three teams that could win it, along with Oregon and BYU," Murray said.
The Wildcats have not competed since Sept. 7, and are eager for more competition.
"After two weeks off," Murray said, "it is nice to get the chance to compete again."
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