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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Preparing For 2003 Season
August 18, 2003 | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 18, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's and women's cross country teams are beginning preparations for the 2003 season. Head coach Cami Wells welcomed the teams back to campus on Sunday (Aug. 17), and the teams begin practicing Monday (Aug. 18). The Falcon squads open the season at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Wells begins her fifth season as the Falcon women's cross country coach, and enters her second year as head coach of the men's team.
On the men's side, Wells welcomes back five of six letterwinners, a far cry from last fall, when BG had no lettermen returning. However, there is one big question mark on the men's squad.
The status of Mario Rothmund, the team's top runner last season, is currently unknown. Rothmund, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, was the team's first finisher in all eight races in which he competed last fall. However, Rothmund, who is in graduate school at BGSU, has appealed to the NCAA for a medical hardship and an additional season of eligibility, and a ruling on that request has yet to be made.
"Obviously, Mario came in last year and made an immediate impact," said Wells. "(The decision on) his eligibility will make a big difference in the makeup of our team."
Rothmund is tentatively set to captain the 2003 men's team.
With or without Rothmund, however, Wells will have a much larger and deeper roster in 2003 than a season ago.
"Currently, we have 14 members on the roster," she said. "We are pleased to have the numbers that we do. In addition to our returnees, we have four young men coming in on scholarship, and we also have a number of walk-on athletes joining us that will help our squad."
Several of the newcomers could come in and help right away, according to Wells. She welcomes a pair of runners from the Midwest in Jeff Wright (Sylvania, Ohio) and Edgar Ramirez (Carpentersville, Ill.), as well as two international runners, Vivien Briard (Chichey, France) and Edwin Cheruiyot (El Doret, Kenya).
"Jeff is coming from just up the road in Sylvania," said Wells. "He has done well in the NLL (Northern Lakes League), and I think he'll do well here. Edgar Ramirez is another newcomer that we're excited to add. He has had success in cross country and had a good track season.
" Sometimes, it takes a year for the freshmen to adjust, just because of the jump in distance, from a 5K race to an 8K, and a 10K toward the end of the year. A 10K race is double what they run in high school. But, Jeff and Edgar are both excited to work hard and get better, and I expect them to do well."
Wells is counting on Briard and Cheruiyot to make an impact right away, as both have international racing experience. Briard qualified for the French Championships in cross country, while Cheruiyot has a personal-best time of 24:05 in the 8K.
"Vivien and Edwin are both a little older, and their experience should help us out tremendously up front," said Wells. "We need help in the top-three spots, and I expect them to step up and compete for those positions right away.
"And, the competition for the five through seven spots should be a real dogfight."
In addition to Rothmund, Wells also welcomes back juniors Kris Lachowski and Patrick Maynard from last year's squad. Maynard (Williamston, Mich.) was the Falcons' second runner to cross the finish line in five of the six meets in which he competed, while Lachowski (Toledo, Ohio) was among the top-five runners all year, and was the Falcons' third finisher in both the MAC meet and the Great Lakes Regional race.
"Kris and Patrick were two of our solid competitors last year, and I look for them to make some big contributions this year as well," said Wells.
Sophomore Josh Stucky and senior Steve Blasko, both from Broadview Heights High School, round out the returning letterwinners. Stucky was the lone Falcon to compete in all nine races last fall. Blasko, who has a stress fracture, will sit out the 2003 season as a redshirt.
"I am pleased that we have had the interest that we had," said Wells, who has five walk-ons to the men's team. "That will make a big difference, as far as training.
"Last year's team had to work through a lot of changes in the program, and I thought they did a good job. This year, hopefully, there won't be as many questions, and we can just concentrate on running well and improving throughout the fall."
On the women's side, Wells returns four of the top-five runners from a year ago, headed by senior Amber Culp (Ann Arbor, Mich.). Culp, who was the top Falcon finisher in each of the last six races in 2002, will captain the 2003 women's squad.
Other top returnees from a year ago include juniors Melissa Krueger (Versailles, Ohio) and Nicole Suitor (Freeland, Mich.). Krueger is the only returnee to have raced in all nine events last fall, and was the Falcons' second finisher at the regional race. Suitor was in the team's top-five all season, and was the second BG runner to cross the line at the MAC Championships.
"We're excited to have so many of our top runners back," said Wells. "We have not had so many top returnees since I've been at BG. And, all are healthy and all had good track seasons.
"Amber had a tremendous track season, coming off a solid cross country season. Melissa had a very good track season, too. Niki had a few injury problems that held her back a little, but she is healthy now and should be ready to help lead us."
Wells also will look to senior Leighann Kramer (Beavercreek, Ohio), junior Elise Gould (Yardley, Pa.) and sophomore Leslie Carden (Galveston, Ind.) as well. Gould ran in eight of last year's nine meets, including the Central Collegiate Championships where she was the second Falcon finisher behind Culp. Carden was slowed in the fall, but came back strong in the outdoor track season. Kramer has struggled with injuries over her career, but returns to BG in good health.
"Leighann has stayed healthy for the past year," said Wells. "She will be fighting for a spot in our top seven.
"Elise Gould did very well in the long distances (during track season), the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events. She really enjoys cross country, and will do very well for us.
"In addition, Leslie Carden had a solid outdoor season. She struggled with an iron deficiency last year, both in cross country and indoor track. But, she is coming back healthy, and I'm looking for her to make a big contribution this season."
Sophomore Caroline Kipchaba (Kapsabet, Kenya) could be ready to compete in the Falcons' top group this fall.
"Caroline came in last year, and it has taken a while for her to adjust to the United States," said Wells. "There were a lot of changes for her to get used to, and she's doing so much better now. She has come a long way, and we're really excited and looking for her to make some big improvements."
The incoming freshmen include Bridget Dalic (Strongsville, Ohio), Andrea Pollack (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Kimberly Settle (Burlington, Ontario).
"Andrea and Bridget both specialized in long distances (in high school) in track," said Wells. "They enjoy the distance events, and I look for them to step in and fight for those top-five positions as well.
"Kim Settle comes from more of a middle distance background, but she's done quite well in cross country, too. She's a little bit older, she's been out of school a year, and I look for her to make an impact.
"So, we should have about nine or 10 girls fighting for the top-five spots, which will be tremendous for us to have. In the past, we've had maybe four runners, and then a dropoff. It is very important to have those top-five solid people.
"Now, we have eight, nine or 10 solid people who -- if a teammate is having an off day -- can pick up the slack. We haven't had that in the past."
For the second consecutive year, both the men's and women's teams have the same schedule. The Falcons' first four meets of the fall all will be held within roughly an hour of home, as BGSU opens at EMU on Aug. 30, then hosts two consecutive meets (Sept. 5 and 13) before competing at the Toledo Invitational (Sept. 20).
"I'm happy with the way the schedule worked out," said Wells. "It is nice to have two home meets, especially the first one (a dual match vs. Toledo) being pretty low-key. But, UT is the returning MAC champion on the women's side, and it's a natural rivalry for both the men and the women.
Following the dual meet vs. the Rockets, the Falcons will host the 17th annual Mel Brodt Invitational, which traditionally brings many area schools from all divisions to the BGSU campus.
"We have not won the Mel Brodt on either side in several years, and we really want to have a good showing on our home course," said Wells.
"Then, it will be nice to have another nearby meet in the Toledo invite. "That will give us an opportunity to really train hard and not have to worry about traveling too far that first month. Especially for the newcomers, it will be an opportunity to get acclimated to BGSU and get their academics in order."
BGSU then hits the road for two October meets, hosted by Auburn and Illinois.
"Once we get into October, we will travel a little farther away," said the coach. "But, by that point in time, the travel party will be a little smaller. We will know who is running well, and we will have an idea of what we need to do to prepare for the MAC Championships and the regional meet."
The conference championship, set for Nov. 1, will be hosted by the University of Akron. The regional race is two weeks later in Terre Haute, Ind.
While Monday marks the first day of practice for the 2003 squads, Wells is confident that her student-athletes have already begun preparations by training on their own throughout the summer.
"We keep tabs on them over the summer, and they should be ready to jump right into some pretty tough workouts," Wells said. "We will find out right away what kind of shape people are in. When you're a distance runner, it is pretty evident right away if you can or can't do what we are asking you to do.
"The intensity is pretty high, particularly in the first few days and weeks. But, everyone knows what they are getting into, and we have a solid group this year."
