Cross Country: Toledo Looks to Continue Last Year's Success
9/4/2002 12:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
Toledo, OH - Coming off the best year in school history, the men's and women's cross country teams are looking to improve on last year's success. The 2001 season saw the Rocket women win the MAC title and finish fourth at the NCAA Regionals. The men placed 20th at the NCAA Regionals, which was the highest finish in school history.
After taking over the helm of the UT cross country program five years ago, head coach Kevin Hadsell is looking for his team's hard work to pay off this season.
"I am looking forward to this year," Hadsell stated. "My first year here was the seniors' first year and there was a lot of work to do. Now this is their last year and they have a chance to go out on top, which is great for me and more importantly for them."
Here is a closer look at the women's and men's teams:
WOMEN "Our goal is to defend our MAC Championship," said Hadsell. "We also want to improve our fourth-place finish at the NCAA Regionals and earn a bid to the NCAA Championships."
Hadsell will look to the Rockets' depth to help UT's title defense. "We have tremendous depth," stated Hadsell. "The girls backing up our top runners would be top runners at any other MAC school."
Every good team must have good leadership and the 2002 Rocket women are no different. Fifth-year seniors Abby Phillips (Attica, OH) and junior Sara Vergote (Kalkaska, MI) will serve as this year's captains, as they have for the past four years.
"We have excellent leadership," said Hadsell. "In my 11 years of coaching this is the best leadership I have ever had. Sara and Abby are tough leaders who hold the team together so much that I don't know what I am going to do when they are gone."
The women's team will be led by a group of talented seniors and other returnees. Leading the Rockets will be the senior trio of Briana Shook (Tiffin, OH), Petra Teveli (Hungary) and Vergote. Shook was named MAC Runner of the Year after finishing first at the MAC Championships with a time of 17:49.9. On the track, Shook was MAC Champion in the steeplechase and in the 5000 meters and also owns the MAC record in that event (16:22).Along with being honored by the conference, Shook was tabbed as Ohio Runner of the Year, All-American and named to the Academic All-America team.
Teveli recorded a seventh-place finish at the MAC Championships and was named Second Team All-MAC. Teveli was the third Rocket to cross the finish line and 12th overall at the NCAA Regional. On the track, she captured the MAC Indoor Mile title.
Vergotetallied an eighth-place finish at the MAC Championships. On the track, she was an NCAA provisional qualifier with personal bests of 10:31 in the steeplechase and 17:04 in the 5,000 meters. Along with Shook, Vergote was named to the Academic All-American team with a 3.87 GPA.
Rounding out the senior class is Emily Gora (Toledo, OH), Phillips and Bonnie Stewart (Toledo, OH). Gora and Phillips enjoyed great track seasons that saw them run 17:47 and 18:00 respectively. Stewart was the team's fourth runner at the MAC Championships last season.
Returnees looking to push the seniors are juniors Kristin Jumer (Centerville, OH) and Lindsey Misejka(Tucson, AZ), sophomores Kelli Branch (Paulding, OH), and Jessica Kraft (Gladwin, MI), and redshirt freshmenEbba Stenback (Norrkoping, Sweden) and Chris Tye (Paeroa, New Zealand).
Leading the returnees from last season is Kraft, who is considered one of the conferences' top sophomores. Kraft's best times on the track are 9:56 (3,000m) and 4:30 (1,500m).
"Along with the other returnees, I am looking forward to see what Chris and Ebba can do after redshirting last season," Hadsell stated. "Tye is a MAC champion in the 5,000 meters and knows how to win and she could make a huge impact for us. Stenbeck is getting very strong and she is a potential high placer in the MAC and the region."
Newcomers to the program looking to make an impact include Sara Chester (Findlay, OH), Cindey Dibert (Elmore, OH), Stephanie Dobberfuhl (St. Charles, IL), Andrea Feudi (Findlay, OH), Rebecca Kappus (Chagrin Falls, OH), Erica Moriarty (Pickerington, OH), Stephanie Phillips (Attica, OH) and sophomore transfer Monika Spinger (Berlin, Germany).
"Erica and Monika should make immediate impacts," said Hadsell. "Spinger is extremely strong and is training with our top group. Moriarty had a great summer of training and is looking very good."
MEN "The goal on the men's side is to be the best team in school history," said Hadsell. "We are primarily a walk-on team so it makes things difficult, but with hard work and tough training, we can be the best in UT history.
Last year, the men saw big improvement as UT defeated Ball State, Bowling Green and Ohio for the first time in history and placed in the top 20 at the NCAA Regionals.
"I believe the men can be in the top 15 in the region and in the top half of the MAC if we stay healthy and continue to improve," said Hadsell
Leading the Rocket men in 2002 will be junior Abraham Habte (Columbus, OH). Habte was the first Rocket across the finish line at the 2001 MAC Championship finishing 27th with a time of 26:02.6. Habte's top finish came at the NCAA Regionals placing 32nd, defeating all but four MAC runners.
Following Habte is senior John Sainna (Kapsabet, Kenya). Sainna improved to be one of the top long distance runners in the MAC and his time of 30:50 (10,000m) at the Hillsdale Relays was his best in the outdoor track season.
Running behind UT's 1-2 punch will be senior Orin Hemminger (Huron,OH)and juniorsMikeVilt (Brunswick, OH), Josh Morris (Oregon, OH) and Luke Mortensen (Midland, MI).
Hemminger is regarded as the team's most improved runner and was one of five UT runners to participate in the NCAA Regionals.
"I look for Orin to make a difference as our third man," said Hadsell. "He will lead our 3-4-5 guys and the teams' score will be reflective of his hard work."
Vilt recorded a top finish of 12th at the Heidelberg Invitational with a time of 27:23.4. Morris' top finish was a 23rd-place showing at the Heidelberg Invite. Mortensen only ran in two races last year.
Newcomers to the men's squad are Evan Baker (Kansas, OH), Chris Gobbell (Holland, OH),Brad Harmon (Freemont, OH), Troy Lovely (Centerville, OH) and Chris VanWashtenova (Monroe).
