Historic, scenic Rim Rock Farm is the site of today’s Bob Timmons Invitational, Kansas University’s only home meet of the cross country season.

“It’s a tough course,” said KU senior Eve Lamborn. “It has a lot of hills. But it’s fun to run, because it’s got a little bit more character and not just another golf course.”

The KU women will race runners from Oral Roberts University, Pittsburg State and Park College in a 5K at 10 a.m., immediately following the men’s 8K race at 9 a.m.

“I enjoy running out there,” KU senior Mark Menefee said. “We train out there and I’ve been going out there for years now. It’s going to be a fun race.

“It’s definitely motivation,” he added, referring to running the same course that some great distance runners from KU’s glory days competed on.

It won’t be an easy challenge though, even with the KU runners’ familiarity with Rim Rock.

Character aplenty, there is no mistaking Rim Rock with any of the manicured golf course fairways the Jayhawks compete on in other meets. With demanding hills and unstable footing, the course that former Kansas coach Timmons bought in the mid-1970s could conquer a runner or two today.

“We’re definitely ready to run and see what kind of condition we are in,” KU coach Stanley Redwine said. “The course is challenging enough for everybody out there. I think it’s going to be a really challenging meet.”

Redwine will expect his leaders, Lamborn and Menefee, to guide what he hopes will be a pack of Jayhawks to the finish line.

“They are two fierce competitors,” he said. “They will give their all the whole way.”

Both runners say they’ll feed off the extra motivation incorporated into this meet.

And if either need reminders of yesteryear, Billy Mills and Jim Ryun always let their presence be known.

“Seeing guys like Billy Mills and Ryun out there is special,” Menefee said of the iron cutouts of standout KU runners that provide added scenery to the already picturesque course.

“It just reminds us of the fact that KU has a great track and cross country history.”

Cross Country Rosters

MEN

Ben Adams, Fr., Golden, Colo.; Luke Belford, Soph., Leavenworth; Brandon Cherry, Fr., St. Charles, Mo.; Ross Cohlmia, Soph., Jenks, Okla.; John DiCalogero, Jr., Setauket, N.Y.; Bryan Easley, Fr., Lincoln, Neb.; Andrew Easton, Fr., Gillespie, Ill.; Dan Ferguson, Jr., Medicine Lodge; D.J. Hilding, Soph., Lawrence; Brandon Hodges, Fr., Hot Springs, Ark.; Chris Jones, Soph., Iowa City; Abraham Kimeli, Jr., Levelland, Texas; Derec Lacio, Sr., Kingman; Joshy Madathil, Fr., Liberal; Mark Menefee, Sr., Hutchinson; Jeremy Mims, Fr., Iowa City; Sean O’Grady, Jr., West Warwick, R.I.; Brian Raggett, Jr., Overland Park; Chris Schroeder, Fr., Hutchinson; Cameron Schwehr, Fr., Colbert, Wash.; Erik Sloan, Fr., Glenview, Ill.; Steve Vockrodt, Jr., Aurora, Colo.

WOMEN

Jenna Bimbi, Fr., Pueblo, Colo.; Lauren Brownrigg, Jr., Tualatin, Ore.; Courtney Deutsch, Sr., Prior Lake, Minn.; Diane Disher, Soph., Wainfleet, Ontario; Michelle Friedman, Fr., Baldwin; Paige Higgins, Jr., Denver; Eve Lamborn, Sr., Colorado Springs; Christine Lathrop, Fr., Overland Park; Laura Lavoie, Jr., Springfield, Mo.; Megan Manthe, Soph., Anoka, Minn.; Allison Martin, Fr., Smith Center; Julie Mullally, Soph., Fremont, Neb.; Arrah Nielsen, Jr., Wichita; Angela Pichardo, Fr., Hollywood, Fla.

SCHEDULE

September: 7-Timmons Invitational. 14-Kansas State Invitational, Topeka. October: 5-OSU Cowboy Jamboree, Stillwater, Okla. 19-NCAA Pre National Invitational, Terre Haute, Ind. November: 2-Big 12, Columbia, Mo. 16-NCAA Midwest Regional, Normal, Ill. 25-NCAA, Terre Haute, Ind.