RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky cross country team will open up its 2007 season with its only home meet of the season, hosting Kentucky and Marshall on Friday at the EKU wood-chip trail. The meet is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.

The men, who earned their 15th league title in 2006 and were selected to repeat as league champs this season, will be led by the return of two-time All-American Jacob Korir who was recently granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA.

A three-time Ohio Valley Conference champion, Korir won last year's NCAA Southeast Regional and then finished seventh at the NCAA Championships. He was also named the 2007 OVC Male Athlete of the Year on May 30, becoming the seventh Eastern athlete to do so.

The men also return a pair of All-OVC performers in senior Jacob Fortney and sophomore Elkana Kurgat who was also named the 2006 OVC Freshmen of the Year.

The women will be in search of their 22nd league title after picking up their 21st title last season. The Colonels return last year’s runner-up, junior Katy Ankrom, who was just seven seconds behind last year’s champion, as well as a pair of second-team All-OVC performers in junior Maria Doerger (seventh a year ago) and junior Allie McMaster (ninth).