Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Women Shock the MAC and Claims Second in Buffalo at the MAC Championships
October 28, 2006 | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 28, 2006
Complete Results |
Photo Gallery 
BUFFALO - The course couldn't have been worse for the men's and women's cross country team on Saturday when they visited Buffalo, New York, for the MAC Championships. It rained the day before as well as on the day of the race, creating one of the most horrific courses in Bowling Green cross country history if not the MAC. Every step taken, the runners would sink into three or four inches of mud. Those who were successful at fighting through all that mud would be glorified at the end of the day. The Falcons fought every second, through the rain, wind, mud, and puddles.
The women shined today when nobody in the MAC was looking at them. Picked to finish sixth today by a preseason coaches poll, they shocked the crowd by finishing second behind winner Ohio University.
"I am so proud of the women's team as a whole," said head coach Cami Wells. "The course conditions were terrible and they got out there and fought every step of the way."
For the first time this season Kim Settle took over and led the team throughout the entire race. She was able to stay on her feet and fight through all the mud for a fourth place finish. Her time, 20:41, does not show how hard she worked. The time may seem slow, but with perfect conditions she could have run much faster. At this level it's more about how well a runner placed rather than what they ran. Settle placed the highest for Bowling Green since 1998 when the Falcons claimed the MAC title on their home turf and were lead by Hanane Sabri and Wendy Licht Ordway who finished second and third respectively.
"Kim Settle ran a great race to finish fourth. She has had an outstanding season and really stepped up today. A great finish for her in her senior cross country season."
 Roflow and Settle  |
|
"Jamie ran a very gutsy race by fighting her way back up to as high as fifth place before taking a hard fall close to the finish and ultimately finishing seventh. One of our goals was to have two women earn first team All-MAC and Kim and Jamie got it done."
Perhaps the biggest achievement of today's race was the goal the team has been trying to achieve all season long. They have worked long and hard during each race to close the gaps between runners. In the sport of cross country where your top five runners score for the team, it is essential to get all runners as close together in their place and in time. The Falcons did just that today as the first runner was fourth with a time of 20:41 and the fifth runner was 43rd with a time of 21:57, just 1:16 apart.
"We have been working all year on closing the gaps up after our top two runners and today we did a much better job! Our top five were separated by 1:16 and our top seven were separated by 1:31."
Freshman Carly Bates was the number three runner for the team. She finished 28th and is the top freshman for the Falcons since Stephanie Hillman in 2004 who finished 21st.
"Carly has been solid for us all year and she was great again today. I told Carly to aim for a top 30 finish and she accomplished it."
Kara Butler fought her way up to be the fourth runner for the Falcons. She finished 31st, 18 spot higher than in 2005.
"Kara had her best race all season and stepped up to help us be successful today. Kara has fought back from a long illness last spring and really regained her form this fall.
The fifth runner for the Falcons was Stephanie Hillman. She finished 43rd this season but has been dealing with an iron deficiency all season.
"Stephanie has been dealing with an iron deficiency all fall and has toughed it out to help the team. She has show great leadership every day."
Kylie Korsnack was next for the Falcons. She finished 45th, 50 spots better than last year.
"Kylie ran her best collegiate cross country race every today. She is such a fighter and she loved all the mud and she made a huge improvement."
Bridget Dalic was the final Falcon to cross the finish line. She finished 52nd moving up 25 spots from last year.
"Bridget fought hard and was able to close up the gaps and finish close to the top 50 today which is a nice improvement from last MAC meet."
Perhaps Korsnack and Dalic's biggest accomplishment today was their ability to pass runners during the race making themselves finish much higher and helping the Falcons to finish second.
|
|
"We had hoped to finish higher as a team on the men's side today. Although this wasn't the MAC meet the men had trained for they have made good progress this fall and I am very proud of them.
Kipchoge finished 18th after fall three times throughout the course. A typical day in his hometown of El Doret, Kenya, is nothing compared to the weather and conditions he faced today. In fact, both of BG's top runners this season on the men's and women's side (Roflow and Kipchoge) took tumbles. Kipchoge was with the lead packs for most of the race but after the third fall was unable to finish in the top 15 and claimed 18th place. Although it may seem disappointing, the most exciting thing about his finish is that he is only a freshman and there are bigger and better things to come from Kipchoge.
"Eddie had a tough day today fall three times on the sloppy course. He has had an outstanding season and I have no doubt he will be back in form and ready at the Great Lakes Regional meet in two weeks."
Brad Wells continued to impress in his first year as a Falcon. The transfer student has consistently been the number two runner for the team and was just that today as he finished 29th.
"Brad ran a good solid race today and will continue to work on preparing for the Regional meet."
Rogers Kipchumba finished off his final MAC meet as the teams number three runner and finished in 51st place. Edgar Ramirez was right behind him in 53rd place. The final three Falcons finished 59, 60, and 61 and they were Curtis Farnsel, Kevin Kaighin, and Hillary Maiyo.
"Kip has struggled with health problems all fall but he keeps fighting each race and has been such a big part of this team the last three years."
"Edgar ran tough and will keep working on getting stronger. Curtis and Kevin have been dealing with nagging injuries this fall but they toughed it out. Hillary was running in his third cross country race ever and had a tough time with the muddy and cold conditions but he has a bright future ahead of him.
The Falcons will take the next two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet which will be held right Bowling Green on the Forrest Creason Golf Course on Nov. 11.
Men First Team Corey Nowitzke (EMU) Josh Perrin (EMU) David Brent (EMU) Jason Headman (Akron) Ben Wietmarschen (KSU) Jeff Powers (CMU) Josh Karanja (EMU)Men Second team Matt Loiselle (CMU) Ryan Spellman (KSU) Neal Naughton (EMU) Andrew Manning (CMU) Curtis Vollmar (EMU) Brian King (Ohio) Curtis Baldwin (EMU)
Men's Coach of the Year John Goodridge (EMU)
Women First Team Carime Reinhart (Ohio) Mary Veith (UB) Andrea Mass (Ohio) Kim Settle (BGSU) Sediah Erskine (Akron) Kari Summers (Ohio) Jamie Roflow (BGSU)
Women Second Team Stephanie Blackstone (KSU) Jackie Rivard (CMU) Dagmara Handzlik (Toledo) Jennie Stoll (Miami) Annie Beecham (Ohio) Kalli Williams (EMU) Nicole Camp (Toledo)
Women's Coach of the Year Clay Calkins (Ohio)
