Bowling Green State University Athletics
Cross Country Women Tabbed For Seventh In 2008 MAC Preseason Polls
August 21, 2008 | Women's Cross Country
Aug. 21, 2008
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's cross country team has been picked to finish seventh at this year's Mid-American Conference Championships. The Falcon men's team was predicted to finish ninth, as announced by the MAC office on Thursday, as it released its' 2008 preseason polls. The polls are the results of voting by the MAC's head coaches.
The Falcons of head coach Cami Wells will return eight letterwinners (including one 2006 letterwinner) on the women's side and three on the men's squad. Wells begins her 10th season as BGSU's women's coach, and 2008 marks her seventh as the head coach of both Falcon cross country programs.
"Our Women's team has very high expectations after finishing second in 2006 and then running last season without top runner Jamie Roflow," said Wells. "The team is eager to get back out and race now that Jamie has returned and everyone has had one more year to get stronger. We have a strong group of returning athletes and add a solid freshmen class with Saisha Gailliard, Sally Jerop and Agnes Kibor. So we're excited to see what lies ahead for this group. This women's team has the most depth we've ever had."
"Our Men's team then is young, but they are excited and have worked hard all off-season," Wells continued. "Early on, we will be focusing on individual and team improvements from week to week, but we think it will be a good year for us with us returning a solid group and adding a large freshman class."
Last season, the BG women were picked to finish third in the preseason polls, but placed seventh at the championships. A major reason behind the lack of success came due the squad being without the services of 2006 All-MAC First Team runner Jamie Roflow, one of the finest runners in Falcon history. The Cincinnati native suffered a season-ending injury prior to the start of the season and was forced to miss the entire fall schedule.
In Roflow's absence though, the Falcons saw the emergence of two of the conference's finest young runners. Freshmen Ashley Fischer and Barbara Powers would combine to finish in the Falcons' No. 1 position in all seven races of the season, as Fischer earned her first collegiate victory in her first collegiate race against Toledo on way to finishing as the No. 1 runner on five occasions, while Powers did so twice.
Powers finished 28th at the MAC Championships and came across the line in the 62nd position at the NCAA Regional meet.
"Our top five runners will be tough and it'll be a battle each and every week for those spots," said Wells. "Ashley Fischer really stepped up as the leader last year with Jamie Roflow out with her injury. Then Barbara Powers, Carly Bates, Kara Butler, Lyndi Springer and Heather Conger all came along well last year. You add Jamie in there this season and we should have a pretty strong group at the front."
On the opposite end, the Falcon men were picked to finish seventh at last season's championships, but countless bouts with injury and illness took its toll on the squad. The men would finish eighth at the championships with sophomore Eddie Kipchoge taking home All-MAC Second Team honors with his 14th-place finish.
"We had a lot of injury and illness issues last year," said Wells. "We just need to keep people healthy. We're going to be a pretty young team, but its a group that understands that they are going to have to work hard and try to move up the conference ranks. They know that they got to get in there and battle when it comes time to battle."
"Chris Moody did a great job last year and we hope to see more out of him," Wells continued. "Aaron Smuda, a fifth year senior, had a tremendous summer of training and has potential to be at the top. There is good competition for the top five spots this year. We also have two freshman, Nick Aspen and Peter Myles, coming in that have a good chance of being some of our top athletes."
Wells and the Falcons are in the midst of preseason training, as the 2008 season begins with a home dual meet vs. Toledo on Friday, Aug. 29.
For more information and the complete preseason polls, see the official MAC release below.
Eastern Michigan Men, Akron Women Selected To Win MAC Cross Country Titles
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Eastern Michigan men's and Akron women's cross country teams were picked to win their respective titles at the 2008 MAC Cross Country championship as voted on by the league's head cross country coaches.
Eastern Michigan is coming of it's third consecutive men's cross country team title after racking up 31 points last season at the MAC Championship. The Eagles had three runners that finished in the top five and defeated second place Miami by 19 points. 2007 MAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year John Goodridge will welcome back five All-MAC honorees in 2007 individual champion Josh Perrin (first-team), Josh Karanja (first-team), David Brent (first-team), Curtis Vollmar (second-team) and Kyle Mena (second-team).
Miami was picked to finish second behind Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks were followed by Central Michigan and Kent State in third, while Akron and Ohio rounded out the top six spots in the poll. Buffalo, Toledo and Bowling Green rounded out the men's poll.
On the women's side, Akron was picked to finish tops in the MAC after finishing second at last year's MAC Women's Cross Country Championships. The women scored 58 points, two points behind preseason favorite and 2007 champion Ohio but 19 points ahead of third-place Miami. The Zips will welcome back four 2007 All-MAC honorees in Cassie Schenk (first-team), Sediah Erskine (second-team), Larisa Arcup (second-team) and Kim Lorentz (second-team).
Ohio was picked to finish in second place on the women's side after claiming the 2007 team title, while Miami was tabbed to finish third. Toledo, Ball State and Central Michigan filled out the top six sports in this year's poll. Bowling Green (seventh), Kent State (eighth), Western Michigan (ninth), Eastern Michigan (10th), Buffalo (11th) and Northern Illinois (12th) rounded out the women's poll.
The 2008 Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008.
2008 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 1. Akron
2. Ohio
3. Miami
4. Toledo
5. Ball State
6. Central Michigan
7. Bowling Green
8. Kent State
9. Western Michigan
10. Eastern Michigan
11. Buffalo
12. Northern Illinois
Predicted Women's Cross Country Champion: Akron
2008 Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Miami
T3. Central Michigan
T3. Kent State
5. Akron
6. Ohio
7. Buffalo
8. Toledo
9. Bowling Green
Predicted Men's Cross Country Champion: Eastern Michigan
