WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY LOOKING FOR REPEAT (by UA Sports Information)
 On Saturday, both UA cross country teams will be in Schoolcraft, Mich.,
for their respective MAC Championships.  The Zip women are seeking to
repeat as conference champs in a field as wide open as any one can
remember.  The Zips have been led all season by junior Bobbie Hardbarger
(Newark/Utica), last week's MAC Runner of the Week,  Hardbarger was the
top Division I finisher at the All-Ohio Championships Oct. 13.
The return of junior All-America Michelle Rizzo (Painesville/Perry)
bodes well for the Zips.  Rizzo underwent arthroscopic knee surgery
during the summer and is starting to round back in to shape after
competing Oct. 6 at Notre Dame and Oct. 13 at All-Ohio.
Hardbarger and Rizzo give Akron a solid 1-2 punch. Three other runners
to watch are junior Jaime Alton (Mentor) (13th at All-Ohio), senior Gigi
Dostal (Massillon/Perry)(11th at MAC Championship a year ago), junior
Eva Horvat, and sophomore Erin Frye.
Expected to challenge coach Scott Jones' Akron team are Eastern
Michigan, Kent, Ohio and Pre-MAC winner Western Michigan.
The Zip men are looking to improve upon last year's eighth-place finish.
They are paced by senior Rob Murray (Akron/Firestone). Murray placed
fourth at the All-Ohio Championships two weeks ago, the best finish by
an Akron runner at the meet since Al Campbell won the event in 1963.