Oregon State Runners Head to Hawkeye Invitational, Willamette Open

At the Willamette Open Oregon State will be competing against Willamette University, Whitworth and Pacific.

OSU cross country kicks off its season at the Hawkeye Invitational and Willamette Open. Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State women’s cross country will open the 2007 season this weekend in two locations.

Fourteen runners are headed to the Hawkeye Invitational at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City, Iowa, for a 3,000 meter race at 8:30 a.m. CDT on Saturday.

Nine other Oregon State runners will be competing Saturday in Salem at the Willamette Open hosted by Willamette University at Bush Park for a 5,000 meter race at 2:30 p.m.

Competition at the Hawkeye Invitational includes host and No. 14 Iowa, Wichita State and the University of Northern Iowa.

“Both meets are significant,” head coach Kelly Sullivan said. “It’s the first meet of the season. I wanted to do a meet where we actually traveled, since we are hosting Pac-10s and West Regionals are at University of Oregon. This weekend gives the team an opportunity to run against opponents like Iowa and Wichita State that are very solid programs.”

At the Willamette Open Oregon State will be competing against Willamette University, Whitworth and Pacific.

“Willamette is always very competitive,” Sullivan said. “Sara Zerzan, Willamette’s top runner was the Division III national champion last year. She’s probably one of the top 20 runners in the nation at any level. This is a great meet to break the ice, get started and see where we’re at.

Oregon State opens the season ranked No. 12 in the West Region.

The Beavers return five of the seven top runners and seven of the top 10 from a very successful 2006 campaign that saw Oregon State in the top 10 of the West Region for the majority of the season.

“I’m anxious for both groups to compete this weekend," Sullivan said. "Both groups are going to have great competition.”

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