TOLEDO, OH - Since the end of last season, the University of Toledo men's and women's cross country teams have had one date in mind: Oct. 31, 2009.
That's the date of this weekend's MAC Cross Country Championships, hosted by Ohio University in Athens. The women's team looks to capture its third title this decade, while the men hope to improve on last year's finish and crack into the top-five for the first time in program history.
"I expect that the women are going to place themselves in a position to win another MAC Championship. We have been training and racing well all year and these last couple of weeks of preparation has been spectacular," said head coach Kevin Hadsell. "And the men have an opportunity to prove that they are, once again, the most improved team in the MAC.
The women won back-to-back titles in 2001-02 and earned votes amongst the nation's top-30 programs. Hadsell feels that the Rockets team he coaches now may be better than those squads he led at the beginning of the decade.
"In the past, our nationally-ranked teams have been strong at one-two-three and a bit weak at four-five," he said. "This team is very strong at one-two-three but the difference is that our four-five-six runners are capable of being All-MAC. The team is much deeper than the championship teams of the past."
The field is deep on the women's side, though, and challenging for the top spot will not be easy as the Rockets will have to contend with defending champion Miami and an Akron team that has placed in the top-three the last four years.
"Miami killed the field last year and Akron is very talented," Hadsell said. "There are a lot of good programs in the MAC and a lot of good coaches that I respect. I think the meet will be a bit top heavy with us, Miami and Akron taking most of the Top-20 spots."
Still, even with the strong field, Hadsell feels confident that the Rockets have know what it will take to regain conference title.
"It is going to take a typical Toledo-style effort," he said. "We need to create a tough early pace that forces the other teams out of their comfort zone. I don't think we feel like there is any pressure since we have shown all year we can beat the other MAC teams. The women are very confident and excited and I think that will show come Saturday."
Sophomore Ari Fisher has been Toledo's top-runner all season, with a pair of individual titles to her credit. Other top-runners for the Rockets will include senior Renata Volf, sophomore Lindsay Toussant, freshman Devyn Ramsay and junior Karen Sovacool.
On the men's side, the Rockets are paced by junior Elisha Kipchumba, who has been the team's top-finisher in each race this fall. He will be joined by classmate Chris Wall, sophomore Jonathan DeWitt, sophomore Barnabas Kiprotich and Elliot Livensparger as the top-five racers for the men.
The men's race is slated to start at 11 a.m., while the women will follow at noon.
2008 MAC Championships Review
Women (6th overall, 165 points)
17. Karen Sovacool, 17:51.2
29. Lindsay Toussant, 18:08.8
38. Dagna Sztykiel, 18:19.6
40. Natalie Perzanowski, 18:23.5
41. Audra Brown, 18:23.6
42. Jenna Fausey, 18:23.9
43. Emma Kertesz, 18:24.0
Men (8th overall, 186 points)
24. Elisha Kipchumba, 25:29.2
25. Ken Samoei, 25:29.8
40. Chris Wall, 26:08.6
47. Barnabas Kiprotich, 26:32.3
50. Jonathan DeWitt, 26:37.3
60. Joel Kozlesky, 28:24.6
61. Mike Taylor, 28:34.0
Rank and File
The women's cross country team has earned respect around the region and nation for its performances this year. The Rockets have been ranked every week in the Great Lakes Region poll and received votes for three-straight weeks in the national USTFCCCA poll.
Go Fish
Sophomore Ari Fisher (Lebanon, OH) has enjoyed a breakout season. She won individual titles in the dual meet against Bowling Green (Sept. 4) and at the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge (Sept. 26). Fisher has been the top-runner for the Rockets in all three meets she has competed in. She was twice named the MAC Cross Country Runner of the Week for her efforts (Sept. 29, Oct. 20) this season and has won the award three times in her career.
Devyn Decorated by MAC
Freshman Devyn Ramsay (Benzonia, MI) was honored as the MAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week following her performance at the Eastern Michigan Open on Oct. 23.
Ramsay finished sixth overall, completing the 5,000 meter course in a time of 18:19.00. She broke up the top-five of the University of Michigan's "A" team while also finishing ahead of all eight Michigan State runners who were entered in the event.
Rockets Add Home Meet to Slate
Kevin Hadsell announced an addition to the women's cross country schedule this fall. The Rockets will host the Toledo Rocket Open at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Ottawa Park Golf Course.
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
