Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hosts Mel Brodt Invitational
September 13, 2002 | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 13, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University cross country teams are preparing for the Falcons' lone home race of the 2002 season. The 16th annual Mel Brodt Invitational is scheduled for Saturday morning (Sept. 14) at the course that bears Brodt's name.
The men's race, which will be eight kilometers in length, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., with the 5K women's race set to start at 10:30 a.m.
The starting line is located on the 14th hole of Forrest Creason Golf Course, which runs along Stadium Drive just north of Doyt Perry Stadium. The finish chute is located to the east of Perry Stadium and the tents that comprise the Meijer Tailgate Party, and just west of Interstate 75.
Fans interested in attending the races are encouraged to park in the overflow area of Lot 6. That parking area is adjacent to the finish chute.
DIRECTIONS: The best way to get to the course is to take I-75. Exit at the Bowling Green exit (Exit 181) and proceed toward campus (toward the football stadium). Turn right at the first light, and then make a right on Stadium Drive (first right, just before the campus information booth). Take Stadium Drive; the road will curve to the left. The tents for the Meijer Tailgate Party will be on the left, and the finish chute for the Mel Brodt Invitational will be on the right. Turn right into the parking lot.
In addition to the Falcons of head coach Cami Wells, the following schools are scheduled to have both their men's and women's squads in the event: Baldwin-Wallace, Cincinnati, Dayton, Findlay, John Carroll, Oakland, Ohio and Siena Heights. Eastern Michigan, Heidelberg and Toledo will send men's squads only, while Michigan and Western Michigan will have women's teams in attendance.
"Our teams will have nearly everyone healthy," said Wells, who noted that freshman Nicola Viljoen is questionable for the women's race. "We are very excited to race on our home course. The first two races this season were on tough, hilly courses in very hot weather. We are supposed to have good weather (Saturday), and it will be nice to run on a smooth course that we are familiar with.
"The women's race should have very good competition. Michigan always has a strong team, snd Western Michigan looked good in their first meet. Obviously, we always want to compete well against other MAC schools.
"On the men's side, we will have everyone racing. It is the first time I'll get to see all of the men's runners race, so I can really get a true sense of where we're at.
"Eastern Michigan, the overwhelming favorite to win the MAC, is bringing a partial squad, but we will get a sense of how we match up with the other MAC teams, Toledo and Ohio. Overall, we definitely have our strongest men's field in several years."
BGSU's women's team has won seven of the first 15 races, while the Falcon men have earned three Mel Brodt Invitational titles over the years.
PRONUNCIATION: Brodt (rhymes with boat)
