Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, August 31
Bowling Green, Ohio
6:30 P.M.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener
Cross Country Set For Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener
August 30, 2012 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio. – The Bowling Green State University men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2012 campaign on Friday, Aug. 31 as part of the Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener. The Falcons welcome the women's teams from Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Ball State, as well as the men of Toledo for the first home cross country meet since 2010. The men's race will start at 6:30 p.m. with the women following at 7 p.m.
Young And Ready
The Bowling Green State University men's and women's cross country teams are loaded with young talent. Of the 16 athletes on the women's side, 11 of them are freshmen, combined with two sophomores for a total of 13 underclassmen. The men's squad is comprised of a little more experience, but still boasts four freshmen and one sophomore on a 13-man roster.
Who Is Mel Brodt?
Mel Brodt retired in 1984 after 25 years as BG's cross country coach and 20 seasons as men's head track coach. Brodt coached 53 Division I All-Americans, five collegiate record holders, 92 MAC Champions, and two MAC Championship teams in cross country (1969) and track (1972).
Brodt was named Coach of the Year at the 1972 NCAA Indoor Track Championship, the 1972 NCAA District IV Cross Country meet and at the 1983 MAC Cross Country Championship. His dual meet coaching record was 89-44-2 in track and 146-55 in cross country. He is a member of the Ohio Association of Track and Field Hall of Fame and Ohio Track and Field Hall of Fame. Head coach of the 1976 AAU team that competed against the Russians in Leningrad, Brodt was also head coach of the national junior team at the 1980 Pan American Games in Canada.
Mel Brodt was inducted into the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
Possible Bowling Green Participants
| Men | Best Bowling Green 5K Time | Women | Best Bowling Green 5K Time |
| Perry Fraylick | 17:05, Toledo Dual Meet (9/3/10) | Andrea Alt | NA (RS Freshman) |
| Joe Van Bolderen | 18:29, Toledo Opener (9/2/11) | Jasmine Redman | NA (RS Freshman) |
| Tom Hipwell | NA | Caitlin Flack | 20:43, Mel Brodt Invitational (9/11/10) |
| Tim Jurick | NA (Freshman) | Megan Monte | NA (RS Freshman) |
| Zach Shilt | NA (RS Freshman) | Taylor Stichter | 19:52, Mel Brodt Invitational (9/11/10) |
| Brian Coleman | NA (Freshman) | Abby Koch | 18:07, Mel Brodt Invitational (9/11/10) |
| Greg Black | 16:26, Toledo Dual Meet (9/3/10) | Emma Mirwaldt | NA (Freshman) |
| Aaron Williams | NA | Kelsey Cogan | NA (Freshman) |
| Amanda Garlak | NA (Freshman) | ||
| Kendra Kezur | NA (Transfer) | ||
| Becca Rae | NA (Freshman) | ||
| Heather Baruxes | NA (Freshman) | ||
| Lindsay Kaats | NA (Freshman) | ||
| Mackenzie McMillin | NA (Freshman) |
The Competition (Women)
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| 12th | MAC Preseason Pick | 5th | 11th | 1st |
| 12th | 2011 MAC Championship Finish | 5th | 8th | 1st |
| 0 | Returning All-MAC Picks | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Underclassmen | 8 | 7 | 19 |
| 3 | Upperclassmen | 7 | 4 | 9 |
Women
The Toledo women come to town with a No. 23 ranking in the 2012 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national preseason coaches' poll. The Rockets are the only Mid-American Conference team represented in the poll. Toledo is the two-time defending MAC champion, and is coming off back-to-back third place finishes at the NCAA regional championships, as well as back-to-back NCAA championship bids. The Rockets were also projected to finish first in the MAC.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are projected to finish fifth in the MAC, the same rank they earned at the MAC Championships last season in Muncie, Indiana. EMU boasts six seniors on the roster, including Courtney Chalko, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors last season. Sophomore Victoria Voronko also returns for the Eagles this season after being named to the All-MAC first team in 2011.
Ball State comes to Bowling Green after finishing eighth in the MAC Championships last year, their highest finish since 2007 (fifth). The Cardinals were picked to finish 11th in the conference this season, one slot higher than the Falcons. Similar to Bowling Green, Ball State relies heavily on underclassmen to carry the load, with three freshmen and four sophomores on the roster.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are projected to finish fifth in the MAC, the same rank they earned at the MAC Championships last season in Muncie, Indiana. EMU boasts six seniors on the roster, including Courtney Chalko, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors last season. Sophomore Victoria Voronko also returns for the Eagles this season after being named to the All-MAC first team in 2011.
Ball State comes to Bowling Green after finishing eighth in the MAC Championships last year, their highest finish since 2007 (fifth). The Cardinals were picked to finish 11th in the conference this season, one slot higher than the Falcons. Similar to Bowling Green, Ball State relies heavily on underclassmen to carry the load, with three freshmen and four sophomores on the roster.
Men
The Toledo men finished sixth at the MAC Championships last season, before finishing the year with a 15th place finish at the NCAA Regionals. The Rockets were picked to finish sixth in the MAC Preseason Poll.
2012 MAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Toledo
2. Ohio
3. Central Michigan
4. Miami
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Western Michigan
7. Akron
8. Northern Illinois
9. Buffalo
10. Kent State
11. Ball State
12. Bowling Green
Predicted Team Champion: Toledo
2012 MAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Central Michigan
3. Kent State
4. Akron
5. Buffalo
6. Toledo
7. Miami
8. Ohio
9. Bowling Green
Predicted Team Champion: Eastern Michigan
The 2012 Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener Preview (Courtesy Of Danny Sierra)
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