Top-Ranked BYU Women Takes On No. 3 Florida, No. 2 Oklahoma State Men Headline Pre-Nats

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Kylie Graham photo

A weather forecast calling for stormy weather on Saturday has caused meet organizers to move the Pre-Nationals Invitational at Gans Creek Cross County Course a day early to Friday. 

While the bulk of top-20 teams is competing at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, a handful of significant teams are set to run on Missouri's NCAA Championship course. 

The reigning women's national champions from BYU are taking on No. 3 Florida, the team that won the Gans Creek Invitational in September. The Gators will feature Hilda Olemomoi, Tia Wilson, Desma Chepkoech and Judy Chepkoech.

Listed among the 16 names for BYU on the entry list is freshman Jane Hedengren, who may well make her college debut after breaking nearly every high school girls distance record on the track earlier this year. Riley Chamberlain, Carmen Alder and Taylor Rohatinsky are a few of the veterans listed for the Cougars. 

The women's field also includes No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Villanova, No. 21 Missouri, No. 23 Boston College and No. 30 Tennessee. Texas and Arkansas are both on the start list as well and are just outside the top 30. 

The men's field includes No. 2 Oklahoma State, which has competed twice on its home course this fall, will make its first trip down to Gans Creek this season. 

Denis Kipngetich led OSU to a team victory at the 87th Cowboy Jamboree on Sept. 26, but is not listed on the team's line-up.

The Cowboys will race No. 19 Missouri, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 30 Loyola-Chicago and Minnesota and Wyoming, both just outside the top 30.