Toledo, OH - With both cross country squads returning their entire rosters from the 2008 season, head coach Kevin Hadsell has high hopes for success for the Rocket harriers, who kick off their season with a dual meet against Bowling Green on Friday, Sept. 4.

On the women's side, 20 runners have been in the program for at least one season, and the same holds true for nine of the 11 men's runners.

"The women's team is the deepest I have ever coached," said Hadsell, who enters his 12th year directing the cross country programs.  "It is also a team that has used the last year, particularly the last four months, to make a dramatic leap in their abilities.  The atmosphere of the program is that of the nationally-ranked teams we had from 2000-2004. We have not had a single injury in the last eight months and the training has been spectacular.

"The men's team was markedly improved from 2007 to 2008. This year should be no exception. They have really committed themselves to their training and their lifestyle over the last 12 months. I am very excited for the season to progress."

Here's a look at the women's team, which was voted to finish fourth in the MAC Preseason Poll released earlier this week:

SENIORS

The women are led by Renata Volf (Krizevcli, Croatia), who redshirted last year but was an All-MAC and NCAA All-Region selection in cross country in 2007. Volf, who transferred from Virginia Intermont, is a former NAIA All-American in both cross country and track. Also back is Dagna Sztykiel (Bytom, Poland), who finished third at the 2009 MAC Outdoor Championships in the 3000m steeplechase and was an NCAA Regional Qualifier in that event. She was the top UT finisher in three of the five cross country meets she ran in last year.

"Renata and Dagna have established themselves as two of the top female distance runners in both the conference and the region," Hadsell said. "They have both improved from year-to-year and they are tough competitors. Both come into the season in great shape."

JUNIORS

Six talented members of this class are on the women's roster, headlined by Karen Sovacool (Cleveland, OH), who led the Rockets with a 17th-place finish last year at the MAC Cross Country Championships. Audra Brown (Ayersville, OH) returns after a successful spring season in which she recorded second- and third-place finishes in 5K events. Sarah Neubacher (Fort Wayne, IN) was the team's top finisher at the 2008 All-Ohio Championships. Megan Chambers (Rocky River, OH), Jenna Fausey (Minster, OH) and Maureen Gibbs (Ottawa Lake, MI) also don the Midnight Blue and Gold this season.

"Karen and Audra, particularly, have really made substantial strides over the last two years," Hadsell said. "They are coming into the fall in the best shape of their lives and both have the potential to be All-MAC level performers this year. I am excited to see them race."

SOPHOMORES

Hadsell welcomes back eight members of the sophomore class to the women's team. Danielle Thomas (Perrysburg, OH) and Lindsay Toussant (Minerva, OH) have the most experience in that group, as Thomas was the team's top finisher at last year's Eastern Michigan Open, while Toussant was the team's second-best finisher at the MAC Cross Country Championships. Ari Fisher (Lebanon, OH) returns after placing ninth in the 10,000 meters at the MAC Championships in the spring. Emma Kertesz (Toledo, OH) and Amanda Mannon (Oregon, OH) had several solid finishes in 2008, and the team will also look for improvements from Joni Camp (Sterling, OH), Liza Cholin (Oregon, OH) and Ali Fisher (Lebanon, OH) in 2009.

"Ari Fisher and Lindsey Toussant are two of the most dramatically-improved women on the team," Hadsell said. "The jump that they have made over the last four months is shocking. I believe that they are capable of challenging to not only be our top runners but also to score in the top-14 at the MAC Championships. Emma Kertesz has also recovered nicely from surgery a year ago and looks very strong in training."

FRESHMEN

A large and talented freshmen class will infuse young talent into the Rockets' women's team, as Hadsell has brought in nine new faces for the 2009 season, part of 12 freshmen on the roster. Five incoming freshmen earned all-state honors in cross country in high school, including Holly Baird (Wauseon, OH), Lei Bornhorst (Minster, OH), Lauren Fausey (Minster, OH), Devyn Ramsay (Benzonia, MI) and Kristal Studar (Bright, IN). Also returning after redshirting last year are Samantha Condron (Miamisburg, OH), Kacy Crook (Hilliard, OH) and Erica Lipstraw (Oak Harbor, OH).

"I really credit Coach Vergote with having taken this recruiting class under her wing," Hadsell said. "Devyn Ramsay and Kristal Studer came into preseason very hungry to prove themselves. I think they both have the potential to be in our top-7 by the time the MAC rolls around. This is a great situation for them to have such a strong group of women to train with each day."

Here's a look at the men's squad, which will look to best its eighth place finish in the 2008 MAC Championships:

SENIORS

A trio of seniors return for the men's squad in Darren Flickinger (Defiance, OH), Alfred Lagat (Kapsabet, Kenya), and Ken Kiptoo Samoei (Kapsabet, Kenya). Flickinger and Lagat both placed well in the dual meet last year against Bowling Green, while Simoei was the Rockets' number two runner in every meet last season. He finished 25th overall in the season-ending MAC Championships.

JUNIORS

The four members of the junior class that return for the men will be asked to help shoulder the load for the Rockets this season. The top returner is Elisha Kipchumba (Nairobi, Kenya), who was UT's top finisher in four of the five events he competed in last year. Also back is Chris Wall (Centerville, OH), who placed second in the Bowling Green dual and was UT's number three runner. Rounding out the returners is Joel Kozlesky (Westerville, OH), while Mike Smith (Toledo, OH) is in his first year on the roster.

SOPHOMORES

The men's team will have four returners in the sophomore class. Barnaba Kiprotich (Eldoret, Kenya) took third overall in the 2008 meet against Bowling Green, while Jonathan DeWitt (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) placed fifth in that meet. Also back is David Herrett (Westerville, OH), while Jeffrey Becka (Medina, OH) joins the team this season.

"The development of Chris Wall, Elisha Kipchumba and Jon DeWitt over the last year has been incredible," Hadsell said. "I think that all three of these guys are really ready to prove themselves and move up the MAC ladder."

Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu