Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green to Host 20th Annual Mel Brodt Invitational
September 14, 2006 | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 14, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University will host the 20th Annual Mel Brodt Invitational this Saturday with the women's race expected to kickoff at 11:00 a.m. and the men's to follow shortly afterwards.
Head coach Cami Wells and company are excited to kick-off with the race this weekend after taking a two week break from competition.
"Both teams are really looking forward to racing again," said coach Cami Wells. "There are strong teams coming to compete this weekend and we need to be ready to step up to the challenge and perform well."
One challenge the Falcons may come across will be the course. After many years of running on the same course, the Falcons will have an opportunity to run on a brand new course, the one that has been designated the course for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional set to take place November right here on the campus of Bowling Green State University.
"Both the men and the women will be running on new courses this years so that will be a change from the past and give them their first opportunity to see how the regional meet course will be run," said Wells. "Practices have been going very well so I am eager to see how the teams race this weekend. It is always nice for us to compete at home and have the support of our parents, alumni, and fans."
The Falcons return both the men's and women's individual champions from the 2005 race, Jamie Roflow and Rogers Kipchumba.
About the Legend, Mel Brodt
In its twentieth year of competition, the Mel Brodt Cross Country Invitational pays homage to legendry BGSU cross country and track coach Mel Brodt. One of the finest distance running coaches in the country, Brodt retired from coaching 1984 after 25 years at the helm of the cross country squad (men's) as well as 20 years for men's track and field.
During his illustrious career at BGSU, he coached four straight top-ten NCAA Championships in cross country from 1969-1972 as well as the 1969 MAC Cross Country Championships for the men. His squads also finished in the runner-up spot seven other times.
Brodt's track and field teams won seven major championships, including the 1972 MAC title. BGSU took second place in the 1972 NCAA Indoor Championship, only one place out of first.
Brodt was inducted into the Ohio Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1970, and entered the Ohio Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1984. He also was the recipient of the Ed Baker Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to track and field in Ohio, and was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the U.S. Track Coaches Hall of Fame in October 2002, shortly before his death in December of 2002.
Directions to the Course
To the course is to take I-75. Exit at the Bowling Green exit (Exit 181) and proceed west 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 football stadium 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.
Teams Competing at the Mel Brodt Cross Country Invitational
Ashland Men & Women DII Central Michigan Men & Women DI Cincinnati Men DI Bowling Green Men & Women DI Ohio Men & Women DI Eastern Michigan Men DI Malone Men & Women NAIA Spring Arbor Women NAIA Wayne State University Men & Women DII Wheeling Jesuit University Men & Women DII Youngstown State Men & Women DI
