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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Cross Country Preparing For 2004 Campaign
August 17, 2004 | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 17, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's and women's cross country teams are beginning preparations for the 2004 season. Head coach Cami Wells welcomed the teams back to campus on Monday (August 16), and is putting them through two-a-day practices this week. The Falcon squads host Toledo in a dual meet to open the season on Friday, Sept. 3.
Wells begins her sixth season as the Falcon women's cross country coach, and enters her third year as head coach of the men's team.
On the men's side, Wells has a 21-man roster, including senior Kris Lachowski and sophomore Edwin Cheruiyot. Lachowski ran in all but the opening meet last year, while Cheruiyot was the Falcons' top finisher in the last three regular-season races of his freshman season.
"Edwin and Kris have consistently been top runners for us," said Wells. "Edwin suffered from a knee injury during the 2003 season, so his times were not quite where they should have been. He has been healthy this summer and looks to improve upon those finishes in 2004."
Also returning from last season are senior Steve Vairetta and sophomores Aaron Hemmelgarn and Jeff Wright. Vairetta, who will serve as a co-captain in 2004, ran in all eight BGSU races a year ago, as did Wright.
Steve Blasko and Josh Stucky also return after missing last season due to injuries. Blasko will join Vairetta as a Falcon co-captain. "We are excited to get Steve and Josh back," said Wells. "Both have been top-five runners for us in the past.
"The men's squad is as large as we have had in quite some time. We have a number of newcomers -- 14 total -- who will be competing for positions on the squad.
The large group of newcomers includes several transfers who could help the Falcons right away, according to the coach. Sophomore Rogers Kipchumba and junior Bryan Jackson are two transfers with the potential to be immediate contributors.
"Rogers is a transfer student from Kansas State," said Wells. "He comes in with impressive credentials and a deep desire to make it to the NCAA meet, after just missing the cut-off in 2003.
"I also expect Bryan Jackson to be a help to us this fall. Bryan has some collegiate racing experience and has most recently been running marathons. His marathon training background should help him as he enters competition this fall."
 Seniors Niki Suitor (left) and Melissa Krueger will co-captain the Falcon women  |
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Wells welcomes back four letterwinners, a pair of seniors and a pair of sophomores. Senior Melissa Krueger has lettered in each of her first three seasons, and is joined by classmate Niki Suitor. Sophomores Bridget Dalic and Andrea Pollack each ran in every race last fall and were among the Falcons' top runners.
"With Amber's graduation, we will be looking for some individuals to step up and make an impact up front," said Wells. "This season's squad is by far the deepest, most talented team we have had since I took over the program in 1999."
The two aforementioned sophomores generally joined Culp in the Falcons' top three last fall, and Wells looks for more of the same in 2004.
"Bridget Dalic and Andrea Pollack each had solid freshman seasons," said Wells. "Andrea redshirted the outdoor track season with a stress fracture, but was healthy and training again this summer. I expect Andrea to return to competition stronger and more motivated than ever. Bridget also had a successful cross country season and carried that over to the track season. She looks to be a strong leader for us this fall."
Krueger is coming off a successful track season, finishing eighth in the 1,500 meters at the MAC Championships. Suitor was hindered by an injury midway through the cross country campaign, but had a successful spring, capped by a personal-record time in the 5,000 meters at the conference meet. Krueger and Suitor will co-captain the BGSU squad.
Other returnees to the BG squad include senior Elise Gould, juniors Leslie Carden and Caroline Kipchaba and sophomore Kim Settle. Gould ran in only the first four races last fall, but was the Falcons' top 10K runner on the track in the spring. Carden had a strong finish to her sophomore cross country season, breaking into the Falcons' number-three position at the MAC meet.
Kipchaba and Settle each have made steady improvement and could find themselves vying for a spot in the team's regular rotation.
Top newcomers include Jamie Roflow and twins Caroline and Stephanie Hillman.
"We have 11 or 12 individuals that have the capability to be top-five runners for us this season," said Wells. "The young women on this team work very well together and have steadily improved over the past year. With the addition of a strong freshman class I feel this is our year to make so big strides up the ladder at the MAC meet."
Both teams open the campaign with back-to-back home races. In addition to the dual meet vs. UT, the Falcons will host the Mel Brodt Invitational on Saturday morning, Sept. 11. After a short trip north for the Toledo Invitational (Sept. 18), the Falcons will make a slightly longer trip, heading to Stanford (Sept. 25) to close out the month of September.
BGSU then returns to the state of Ohio for the next three races. The Brown and Orange will compete in the All Ohio Championships in Delaware, Ohio, on Oct. 8, before hosting the inaugural Falcon Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Falcon Invite is the final regular-season race.
Two weeks later, BG again heads to the Glass City, as UT hosts the MAC Championship on Oct. 30. The Great Lakes Regional will take place in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Nov. 13, with the NCAA Championship scheduled for Mon., Nov. 22, in Terre Haute, Ind.
