Cross country team runs for rings

by Steph Woody
Staff Writer

Like the two straps that comprise the safety belt of a car, the Ohio men's and women's cross country team is harnessed in and ready to move forward, but has not quite clicked. The Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday would be the perfect opportunity for the Bobcats to do so.

Coach Elmore Banton said any team can make a run at MAC Championships, including Ohio.

"It's definitely been an up-and-down, inconsistent season, but the great thing about cross country is you always get a second chance," he said. "You can lose all year long and go to the big meet, put it all together and do great. This is the only meet that counts."

The women's team, coming off a victory Oct. 12 at the McDonald's Invitational, is feeling confident going into MACs this weekend, runner Katie Fiala said.

"We've had a weekend off and been cutting our mileage down," she said. "We're all in good shape and have been running since the beginning of the summer; it's just a matter of putting it together in one race."

Banton said he expects Kent, Toledo and Miami to battle for first place, while the remainder of the field is too close to call.

Kent boasts a strong pack with an All-Ohio team victory, while Miami brings Andrea Kremer, a two-time MAC runner of the week.

If the Bobcats have a race like they did Sep. 30 in Kalamazoo, Mich., with only a 20-second gap between their first and fifth runner, Banton said they can finish in the top half of the MAC. If they fail to put a good pack together, the story might unfold differently.

"It all depends on which team shows up this weekend," Banton said. "They have to be mentally prepared to run. If they bring their A game, we'll be in good shape."

Banton said he does not know what to expect from the men because five team members have not run well in the same race yet. He does expect the Bobcats to improve on their 11th place finish last year.

"Each runner on our team has run one or two good races, but we haven't had consistency," Banton said. "If we could just pull one race together, we'll have a good showing."

Banton said he expects Eastern Michigan to dominate the meet, with Boaz Cheboiywo taking home the individual title.

Cheboiywo won the Pre-NCAA Furman Invitational in a new course record time of 23 minutes, 31 seconds. He is favored to win the individual title at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Greenville, S.C.

Ohio runner Steve Krajenski said the men's team is ready to pull together for the meet it has been training for all season long.

"I’m optimistic," he said. "Training has been going well and I think if we all come together and have a good race on the same day, we should have a shot at top five in the league."

The women's race begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the men's race at noon in Ypsilanti, Mich.