MU Cross Country Takes Spring Training to Auburn Invitational

AUBURN, Ala. – Mercer University's cross country team will ratchet up its spring season training this weekend when its members compete at Auburn University's War Eagle Invitational on Friday and Saturday (April 15-16). Bears' head coach Ryan Bailey has tossed down the gauntlet to challenge his teams.

"This year, I have a new initiative," Bailey explained. "I have been calling it 'Six under 16:00' (in the 5,000 meter).  I have five men who have already broken the 16:00 minute mark:  Jacob Law, Sony Prosper, Andrew Weems, Mark Kushinka  and Chris Svidesskis.  The sixth man would be Kasib Abdullah, if he is able to manage it…and I think he can.  The 5K race at the Auburn War Eagle is where we will attempt to get six men under 16:00 minutes.

Any hopes to accomplish the feat will depend largely on both Weems and Abdullah. Weems is pivotal to the effort because he is also competing in the 3000 meter steeplechase earlier in the day and his recovery time will be in question.

Abdullah – who has yet to breech the 16:00 minute plateau – will need to lop 18 seconds off of his current personal best to join Bailey's sextet of runners. "(Abdullah) has been running brilliantly in training to the point that he recently outran both Svidesskis and Kushinka during our final time-trial," Bailey said. "I'm excited to see these guys go after this goal."

On the women's side, Kacie Niemann (who has been ill) and Lena Hamvas will both be going after Deborah Jones' 20006 record in the 5K of 18:16.  This will require a significant PR by both of them to reach that barrier, but it's a mark Bailey feels both are capable of reaching.

Christina Kivi will be trying for her first sub-19:00 5K and Kasie Knapper – the only female to ever compete in the steeplechase for Mercer – will try to better her personal best.  Linda Batna and Sammy Woller will be racing in the 1500m event, one of the premiere races at the War Eagle Invitational.