Bowling Green State University Athletics
Cross Country Wraps Up Season at NCAA Great Lakes Regionals
November 12, 2005 | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 12, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - The men's and women's cross country team couldn't have asked for a better day than Saturday at the 2005 Great Lakes Regionals held at Indiana University's cross country course. The course was dry and they had a breezy but sunny sixty-degree day. The conditions really couldn't have been better for the two Falcon teams.
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One Falcon soared above all the rest. That standout was Jamie Roflow, who once again led the women's team, just like she has done all season long. Roflow quickly got out to a fast pace and stayed that way throughout the entire race. She did so well in today's race that she improved 49 spots from her 2004 finish of 77th to a 28th place today. She just missed out on All-Regional which takes the top 25 individual runners. Her time today of 22:08 places her seventh on the Bowling Green All-Time 6,000m list. Roflow also owns the fourth and fifth best times in school history (21:52--set at the 2004 Great Lakes Regionals; 21:58--set at the 2005 Stanford Invitational).She was the sixth MAC runner across the finish line.
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Roflow was also Bowling Green's top finisher since 1998 when Wendy Licht-Ordway ran a 5,000m in 17:53 and finished 10th for the Falcons.
"I thought Jamie ran a great race," said Head coach Cami Wells. "She put herself in a good spot to start off with and just kept on fighting the entire race. I was pleased with her time, especially on such a difficult course. She has done a great job at leading the team the entire season and I am extremely proud of her."
Next across the finish line for the Falcons was fellow sophomore Stephanie Hillman. Hillman had a team place of 89th. Her time today of 23:16 places her 24th on the Bowling Green All-Time 6,000m list. Hillman also owns the 14th and 19th spots on the list (22:33--set at the 2005 Stanford Invitational; 22:57--set at the 2004 Great Lakes Regionals).
"Stephanie had a very successful season overall," said Wells. "She made a nice improvement from last years regional meet. She has been suffering from fatigue the last stretch of the season and it may have kept her back from where she wanted to be here at the Great Lakes Regionals at a few weeks ago at the MAC Championships but I have confidence in her. She's a fighter and she'll be back."
Following Hillman was one of the freshmen who have really made a name for herself on the Falcon squad. Kara Butler crossed the finish line in 125th place with a time of 23:51, a personal best for the Falcon.
"Kara has been very consistent for us this season," said Wells. "She's been in the top five four us in all but one meet. She's been our top three for the past three meets. She's stepped up for us when we needed her to and overall, I can say she's had a very successful freshman campaign."
Kim Settle followed Butler across the finish line. Improving upon her 132nd finish in 2004, Settle managed to finish in 130th place today with a time of 23:55.
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"Andrea was very consistent the first half of the season for us, but she had a setback due to illness a week or so before the conference meet and her finishes at MACs and here at Regionals aren't quite where we wanted them, but we hope for a strong comeback for track," said Wells.
Senior Caroline Kipchaba ran her first and last 6,000m race today for the Falcons. Kipchaba ran the race in a time of 24:19 and was the number five runner for the Falcons on all but the last 200m of the race. She placed 154th for the team.
"Caroline worked very hard this summer and this season to get herself in a position to get herself to be on the MAC squad and Regional squad," said Wells. "I'm very proud of her, finishing up her cross country career this way. I don't think she could have asked for a better finish."
The other freshman running for the Falcons today was Colleen Moran. Giving it her best effort, she crossed the line in 186th place with a time of 25:22.
"Colleen got out very well for us" said Wells. "She has always given her best effort especially since sometimes it's hard for freshmen to make the transition form high school running and collegiate running. She's been a strong force for the team, and I'm looking forward to more improvements on the course next year." placed 90th.
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After taking and entire year off, sophomore Edgar Ramirez had a very successful season and finish for the Falcons. Ramirez was the number two runner for the majority of the season and he finished in 143rd place with a time of 35:24.
"Edgar has done a nice job for us this season," said Wells. "He has been our number two runner for the majority of the season especially after not running for an entire year. I expect good things from him in the future."
Aaron Smuda continued to impress, as he stepped into the number three spot for the Falcons finishing 159th with a time of 35:50.
"Aaron has really come along nicely this season as far as his workouts are concerned," said Wells. "He ran his best race today and am proud of him for that. He has had some back pain throughout the second half of the season but has continued to work through that and it showed in today's race."
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"Bryan has been a consistent top five for us the past two years," said Wells. "He has set the tone for the rest of the team as far as hard work on and off the course. We will certainly miss him next year, as he has been a strong leader for the Falcons in the role as captain."
Brett Finnan, the lone freshman on the squad, running his first 10,000m race came in 178th place with a time of 36:44.
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Senior Kris Lachowski, who has been plagued with injuries the past two seasons, made a strong comeback for the Falcons to finish off the season as one of their top performers. He finished in 179th place with a time of 36:45.
"Kris decided to come back for a fifth year," said Wells. "He had a pretty severe ankle injury early in the season and didn't run till the last half of the season. He has been very consistent for us when he has run for the team.
The final Falcon to cross the finish line was senior and co-captain Steve Vairetta. He placed 184th with a time of 37:02.
"Steve has been a very good captain the past two years," said Wells. " He is a big team oriented guy and has done a lot to go from being a 400m runner to being one of the cross country runners. We will certainly miss him next year."
Overall, the Falcons had a great season, with some highs and some sore spots, but much to improve upon for the 2006 season. On the women's side, the only top-seven runner they lose will be Caroline Kipchaba. Other women who finished off their season earlier this year were seniors Leslie Carden and Emily Jackson. On the men's side, they lose three top-seven runners in Bryan Jackosn, Kris Lachowki, and Steve Vairetta. They also lose seniors Jeremy Hartley and Jon Lill, who will no longer have any seasons of eligibility after the 2005 season.
For the men, it was the first 10,000m race for Finnan, Lachowski, Smuda, and Ramirez.
On the women's side, it was the first 6,000m race for Kipchaba.
The season will come to a close on Saturday, December 3, 2005, as they will host their annual Alumni and Awards Banquet. The program will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will honor the accomplishments of the 2005 season along with honoring the 1980 women's championship team and the 1995 men's and women's championship team. For more information, you can contact Laura Murphy at laura@runmichigan.com.
All photos were taken by Amanda Decker.
