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The Missouri Valley Conference Pre-Championship Poll picked the Saluki men to take home the title Saturday morning in the eight-kilometer conference race, and the women were picked to finish second in their meet.
The Salukis have the advantage of hosting the MVC Championships, albeit on a slightly soggy course.
The fall showers plaguing Southern Illinois the past two weeks have taken their toll, and will present some slippery running for the MVC teams. However, it might turn out to be advantageous for the Salukis, since they have been training on the course under such conditions.
Matt Sparks, head coach for both Saluki cross country teams, said training had been going extremely well despite the rain and everyone, except freshman Jessica Ordway, was completely healthy.
Ordway experienced breathing problems and briefly lost consciousness at the Saluki Invitational, forcing her to drop out of that race. She hasn't finished an event since then.
Despite the possible absence of Ordway, Sparks is confident the women can at least repeat the second-place finish of last year's MVC Championship. Of course, first place in the five-kilometer event is the ultimate goal for the team.
Standing in the Salukis' way will be poll favorite Southwest Missouri State, the team that snatched first from SIU last season. SMS has its entire team, including 2002 individual champion Casey Owens, returning for what may be a fourth straight title for the Bears.
Sparks said he plans on having team activities in order to simulate the feel of a race away from home.
"We're going to have team dinners on Friday night together," Sparks said. "We don't want a lackadaisical attitude just because we're at home."
The race will mark senior Noa Beitler's last MVC Championship competition. Sparks said he expects Beitler to be very focused going into her conference swan song.
"She's had two of her best practices of the year this last week," Sparks said. "She's been leading the way."
Eli Baker will find himself in the same situation in the men's eight-kilometer race. The Saluki senior is a Marion native looking forward to finishing his collegiate career in front of a hometown crowd.
"I just want to go out with a bang," Baker said. "I've got no more cross country left, so I want to make it count."
If the MVC poll is any indication, Baker and his teammates will go out with more of an explosion than a simple bang.
Sparks said he expects two Saluki men to place in the top five, something Baker wouldn't be surprised to see.
"We know we definitely have the ability to make that happen," Baker said. "But you also never what might happen."
Joe Byrne will likely be one of the Salukis to finish in the top five.
The junior has won three individual titles through the season, but faltered in Terre Haute with a 21st-place finish. Sparks said the lower finish actually benefited Byrne.
"He's even more focused now after that," Sparks said. "He knows you have to earn every place, it's not just going to happen."
Taking a complacent approach is something Sparks doesn't want. He said despite being pre-meet favorites, the Salukis will still have to go out and beat people.
Drake and Wichita State will be eager to upset the Salukis, and Sparks said the Salukis have to be aware of all the teams, especially at home.
Should the SIU men win the conference title, it would be the first time since the 1995 season.
"The key to being successful in a championship meet is getting out early and establishing a lead," Sparks said. " I always tell the kids to give themselves a chance to be successful early in the race."
Saluki Sports 
