Bowling Green State University Athletics
Wells Adds Seven to Men's Cross Country Roster
July 19, 2007 | Men's Cross Country
July 19, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Head coach Cami Wells has announced the 2007 men's cross country roster. The team will consist of seven freshman, three athletes returning from a red-shirt season as well as five veteran runners for the Falcons. With the new and returning talent, the 2007 squad looks to accomplish many things this fall.
Freshman
 Max Group signs his Letter of Intent  |
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Beavercreek, OH, Beavercreek H.S.
Has run personal bests of 4:49 for 1600m, 10:27 for 3200m in track and 16:25 for 5000m in cross country as well as 34:33 for 10,000m on the roads. Individual state qualifier in 2006. Southwest District Individual Champion 2006. Earned Academic All-Ohio Honors 2005 and 2006. Served as Cross Country Team Captain.
Coach Wells on Max Group"Max is a hard worker who has seen solid improvement throughout his high school career. Max has the work ethic and competitiveness that we need on this team. With Max's ability and determination I expect he will put himself in a position to be a top five runner for us this fall."
Johnstone Kirui
Eldoret Kenya
Has run personal bests of 24:46 for 8000m, 14:53 for 5000M, and 3:53 for 1500m.
Coach Wells on Johnstone Kirui "Having Johnstone on the team will give us another front runner who will have the ability to make an immediate impact. Johnstone will be relied upon to be a top three runner for us this fall and will be a key component to us working toward meeting our team goals."
Christopher Moody
Davidsonville, MD, South River H. S.
Has run personal bests of 4:25.62 for 1600m, 10:04 for 3200m in track and 15:39 for the three miles in cross country. Finished ninth in the 1600m at the 2007 Maryland 4A State Track Meet as well as being Runner Up in the 4A East Region Cross Country Meet this past fall.
Coach Wells on Christopher Moody" "Chris has set some high goals for himself and I believe he has the ability to reach the goals he has set. Chris is a strong runner who will give us some much needed depth in our top five."
Jeff Ehler:
Cincinnati, OH, Lasalle H.S.
Michael Flores:
Fremont, OH, Fremont Ross H.S.
Has run personal bests of 4:38 for 1600m, 10:25 for 3200m in track and 17:10 for 5000m in cross country. Team captain of the cross country team, junior and senior season. Team captain of the track team, senior season. Four year letter winner in both track and cross country. Named first team GBC senior season and 2nd team GBC junior season. A two time regional qualifier cross country.
Coach Wells on Michael Flores" Michael has a love for running and the sport of cross country. I look forward to seeing how Michael can develop as a runner."
Eric Lutton:
Delta, OH, Delta H.S.
Post High School: Attended Owens Community College while running in road races and open meets...ran a ten mile CRIM in a time of 57:34 in 2005 and was 52nd out of over 7,200 participants..also ran the Toledo 10K Classic with a time of 35:16...in 2007 he ran 4:45.58 in the 1,600-meters during he indoor season...also ran the 40th Annual Churchill's Half-Marathon in one hour, 16 minutes and 16 seconds to win first place out of 171 participants..five days later he ran the Tiffin Open in a time of 16:50.90.
High School: Lutton's high school personal bests were 2:05 for the 800-meters, 4:45 for the 1,600-meters, 10:48 for the 3,200-meters and 17:47 for the 5K in cross country...helped his team to Regionals with the 5K personal-best...has run a 10-mile course in one hour and twenty minutes and a half-marathon in one hour twenty-one minutes and 20 seconds at the Glass City Marathon Relay with his High School coach Jeff Taylor...co-captain in cross country and track during his senior year...was awarded MVP in track in 2003 and co-MVP in 2004...graduated in 2004.
Jesse Smuda: Deshler, OH, Patrick Henry H. S.,
High School: Holds a 5K personal-best of 16:54, mile, 4:48 and two mile, 10:27.
Returning from Redshirt Season:
John Bernard
Worthington, Ohio, Thomas Worthington H.S.
Wells on Bernard: John joined the team late last fall and was redshirted in order to fully prepare for this season. John is a welcome addition to the squad and I look forward to having him race for us this fall.
John was the captain of his high school cross country team during his senior season. He is an six year veteran in cross country, running throughout middle and high school. During his senior season he qualified for the cross country state meet. He held high school personal bests of 15:55 for the 5K and 4:32 for the 1600m.
Dennis Hange
Wooster, OH, Wooster H.S., The University of Rio Grande
Wells on Hange: Dennis is a redshirt junior transfer student from Rio Grande. Dennis has been working to overcome some injury problems this past year and is expected to be healthy and ready to race this fall.
Dennis has run personal bests of 28:18 for 8K and 17:02 for 5K in cross country and 10:10 for 3200m and 4:40 for 1600m in track. He earned first team all conference honors in cross country both his junior and senior year. He was a member of school record-breaking 4 X 1600m relay team
Aaron Smuda
Rogers City, MI, Rogers City H.S.
Wells on Smuda: Aaron Smuda returns to the squad after a one year hiatus. Aaron is a former top seven runner who will be working to get himself back to a top seven position on the team this fall.
He came through for the Falcons in a big way in 2005. He was the Falcons number three runner at the Great Lakes Regional, running a personal-best time of 35:50 in the 10K. He also ran a personal-best in the 8K of 27:09 at the 2005 Mel Brodt Invitational.
Returning:
Curtis Farnsel
Metamora, OH, Evergreen H.S.
Had a strong 2007 season running an 8K personal-best at the Falcon Invitational, finishing in 27:23. He also ran a 10K personal-record at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, running 36:33.
Wells on Farnsel: Curtis is a hard working student and athlete who has done a tremendous job in the classroom being named BGSU male scholar athlete of the year this past spring. I expect Curtis will give all he has to make his senior cross country season his most productive yet and lead the team in his role as co-captain this fall.
Kevin Kaighin
Oregon, OH, Clay H.S.,
Ran a season best 8K at the Mel Brodt Invitational with a time of 27:38, just off his personal best of 27:33 set in 2005.
Wells on Kaighin: Kevin enters his final year on the team this fall and will be relied upon to help fellow seniors Curtis Farnsel and Brad Wells in leading the team. Kevin has the ability to out himself in a position to be a top five to seven runner for us this fall.
Eddie Kipchoge
Eldoret, Kenya, Anresens H.S.
Won four individual championships in 2006 including the UT Dual, Mel Brodt Invitational, All-Ohio Championships, and the Falcon Invitational. Set a collegiate personal best at the Falcon Invite in the 8K with a time of 24:40. He was the recipient of three MAC Runner of the Week awards this season. At the Great Lakes Regional, Kipchoge became BG's highest finisher since 1986 and BG's first top-20 finisher since 1995. He was one shot shy of claiming an at-large bid to nationals. He was named the team's most valuable runner for his accomplishments.
Wells on Kipchoge: Eddie is just an outstanding runner and competitor. What Eddie accomplished in his first year was amazing and I expect him to pick up right where he left off last year and make a strong run to get himself to the national meet this November.
Hillary Maiyo
Eldoret, Kenya, Nairobi H.S. ,
Maiyo was hampered by injuring during the beginning of the season but re-debuted at the Falcon Invitational, in his first ever 8K run and was the team's fourth runner. He ran an 8K PR that day in a time of 27:23. He also ran a 10K PR of 36:33 at the Great Lakes Regional Meet.
Wells on Maiyo:Last fall was Hillary's first time ever running cross country and I thought he did a nice job of adjusting to the longer training and racing. With continued hard work Hillary could be in a position to once again be a top five runner for us this fall.
Brad Wells
Portage, OH, Bowling Green H. S., College of the Cumberlands
Consistent number two runner for the team in 2006. Ran a personal best of 25:44 for 8K at the Falcon Invitational as well as a personal best of 33:37 for 10K at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet. Brad will be relied upon to once again be a leader for the team.
Coach Wells on Wells:With Brad entering his senior season I expect that he will work hard to reach his personal goals as well as do his part to help the team continue to be more competitive this upcoming season. Brad will serve along side Curtis Farnsel as team co-captain for the 2007 season.
