Men’s X-Country Off to a Running Start

by Chase Ruby
Courier Staff

Coming into the 2005 season, the Monmouth College men's Cross Country team was hoping to produce a carbon copy of last year's success.

With many returning letter winners and an All-American on the squad, the probability of the team improving on that success is very high.

The team opened their season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Western Illinois University (WIU) Open at the Spring Lake Park course in Macomb , IL .

MC was able to compete against two Division I-AA teams in Western Illinois University and Illinois State University (ISU) along with fellow Midwest Conference (MWC) rival Illinois College .

The MC men finished tied for first with ISU with WIU and IC finishing second and third respectively. Individually MC had three runners in the top ten with Zach Barr finishing first, Kel Bond finishing fourth, and Anthony Welty finishing seventh.

Later that evening, the team dealt with a devastating blow learning that their All-American leader had sustained a season ending injury. Barr's injury included a fracture of his tibia and fibula, which would require surgery to fix. When asked on how this affects their season Coach Haynes said, “We have a number of talented runners and will continue to work toward individual and team goals. His [Barr] great work ethic will surely be missed”.

In the 2004 season, the team finished second in the Midwest Conference Championships and thirteenth overall in the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Barr was able to capture an individual MWC championship, third in the NCAA Midwest Regional and twenty sixth in the nation all on the way to earning All-American status.

All of the recent success has led to the high expectations of this year's team.

The team is returning its nine-letter winners from last years squad. Returning runners include Barr-SR, Anthony Welty-SR, Sean Fitzgerald-SR, Aaron Etienne-JR, Ken Stachorek-JR, Kel Bond-JR, Scott Hiear-SO, Seth Leitner-SO and Kyle Schierer-SO all have experience of being on a winning team in 2004.

Those nine coupled with the key newcomers of Tanner Scott-SR and Damon Bautista-FR have hopes riding high into the season.

Coach Haynes said the team expects to again challenge for the Midwest title and qualify for the NCAA meet on a team and individual level.