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Cross country won't count on the past
Release Date: August 26, 2009
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
If there is strength in numbers, the
Monmouth College men’s and women’s cross country teams could be in
good shape in 2009.
Nineteen men and 15 women reported
for practice this season, giving Roger Haynes plenty of
bodies with scoring capabilities. The women – who captured their
first Midwest Conference title last season – return their entire
squad, including five all-conference performers.
“Obviously, having a conference
championship and five all-conference runners back is a good thing,”
said Haynes. “Fitness levels change from year-to-year, so it’s not a
given that any team will repeat – even if they return everyone as we
do.”
The Fighting Scots are bolstered by
the return of national qualifier Mary Kate Beyer (East
Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) and three-time all-conference performer
Katie Staab (Batavia, Ill./Batavia). Beyer, a junior, was second
at the Midwest Conference race last year and placed seventh at the
regional meet as she became the Scots’ first female runner to
advance to the NCAA meet.
“We feel like we have recruited some
quality kids to go with our returners,” claimed Haynes. “Mary Kate
and Katie start the process, but we also have a number of good
people behind them.”
Among the newcomers Haynes expects
good things from are junior Lindsie Pettie (Sherrard,
Ill./Sherrard) and freshmen Rachel Bowden (Lexington,
Ill./Lexington), Tori Beaty (Lake in the Hills,
Ill./Huntley), Marlee Lane (Round Lake Beach, Ill./Grayslake
North) and Brittney Frazier (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East).
Pettie and Bowden will be new to cross country, but bring good track
credentials – Pettie competed for the Scots track team as an
800-meter runner and Bowden claimed all-state honors in the 4x800
relay.
“We feel like those women will be
contributors for us,” said Haynes. “With the depth we have, it looks
like the No. 3 through 10 runners will determine the success of our
season. Last year at the conference meet, the women all ran well on
the same day. That is the goal again this year, to collectively run
well.”
While the women have a clear-cut top
two runners, it’s a bit more balanced on the men’s side. Haynes
projects any number of runners to move to the front.
“We have a solid recruiting class to
add to the veterans who ran well at various times last season,”
reported Haynes. “I’m not sure any of the newcomers are ready to
challenge for the No. 1 spot just yet, but we’ve got a nice,
consistent quality group of guys coming back up front and a good
group of freshmen who will contribute more and more as the season
progresses.”
Juniors Scott Sheller
(Morton, Ill./Morton) and Geoff Bird (Kenilworth, Ill.) and
sophomore Jonathan Welty (Dixon, Ill./Sterling Newman) are
among Haynes’ veterans with pack-leading abilities.
“We really have to look at a number
of guys as scoring runners,” said Haynes. “Scott is an
all-conference runner, Geoff was our No. 1 guy in the distance last
spring and Jon is probably in the best shape of anyone right now.”
Damon Bautista (Silvis,
Ill./United Township) is counted among the Scots’ top runners and
returns for his final season hoping to earn his second
all-conference award. The strong junior group includes Alan
Rosiquez (Chicago, Ill./Taft), Tim Bentz (Dixon,
Ill./Dixon) and Craig Maher (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn).
“Our No. 1 runner could be any of
those upperclassmen,” predicted Haynes. “This is a really nice group
to run the pack and lead the program. I’ve been pleased with the way
they all have contributed in some way to the success of our
program.”
The next generation has the
potential to follow in the veterans footsteps. Haynes tabbed no
fewer than six freshmen who could have an impact. Jake Barr
(Mendota, Ill./Mendota), Connor Shields (Naperville,
Ill./Nequa Valley), Peter Lipinski (Western Springs,
Ill./Lyons Township), Matt Gatlin (Oswego, Ill./Oswego),
Paul Davies (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Kaneland) and Brian Daly
(Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick) are touted as potential scoring runners
– if they can make the transition from the high school distance (3
miles) to the college course (8K).
“They’re all talented guys,” said
Haynes. “We don’t have a clear-cut top runner, so we’ll have to
score as a pack. We’re fortunate to get that many quality recruits.
The full impact of this class may not come until the end of the year
and we’ll see it in years to come.”
That would be just fine with Haynes,
considering the end of the year includes the conference
championships, and he already has the race plan in place.
“The men will have to duplicate what
the women did last year,” explained Haynes. “They’ll all have to run
their best on the same day.”
Men's Cross Country |
Women's Cross Country
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