Oct. 20, 2001

Men's Cross Country Team Brings Home MIAA Championship

The Truman men's cross country team shared the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship on Saturday, tying with Missouri Southern for the conference crown. It's the Bulldogs' 11th conference championship in the sport and the team's first since 1994.

Senior Andy Doering (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North) was the individual conference champ, finishing the 8,000-meter race in 24:36.00 for an average of 4:56 per mile. It's the fourth all-conference honor for Doering in cross country, but his first ever league title. He's the first Bulldog MIAA champion since 1992 when Rob Jensen accomplished the feat. Doering beat the defending league champ, Missouri Southern's Petri Kykyri by 18 seconds.

Three other Truman athletes also earned all-MIAA honors, the team's most since 1964 when current Truman coach Ed Schneider captured the conference championship, the same year he also won the NCAA championship. Senior Ben Rosario (St. Louis/SLUH) placed fourth with a time of 25:10.00, followedby sophomore Alan Heincker (Dittmer, Mo./Grandview) in fifth with a time of 25:17.00. Senior Brian McQueary (St. Louis/St. Mary's) came in sixth after completing the course in 25:22.00.

Junior Mike Nelson (Fenton, Mo./Northwest) placed 15th in 26:06.00, while senior Mark DeBold (St. Charles, Ill./Lincoln-Way) was 20th in 26:30. Junior Pat Boyle (St. Charles, Mo.) came in 21st (26:32), and freshman Andy Person (Wildwood, Mo./Ladue) took 27th (26:47). Sophomore Brad Peter (Arnold's Park, Iowa/Okoboji) finished 31st (26:58) and junior Dan Boyle (St. Charles, Mo.) rounded out the Truman finishers by capturing 41st in 27:23.

Truman will be back in action on Nov. 3 at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional on Missouri Southern's home turf in Joplin, Mo. The top four teams from the region will qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships which will be held on Nov. 17 in Slippery Rock, Pa.

FINAL TEAM SCORING--2001 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Emporia, Kan. · Oct. 20, 2001
1. Truman	31
1. Missouri Southern	31
3. Central Missouri St. 	83
4. Pittsburg State	102
5. Emporia State	128
6. Northwest Missouri State	159
7. Missouri-Rolla	160
8. Southwest Baptist	225