Cross country team looks to improve

by Paul Shugar
THE POST

The Ohio cross country team heads into today's Pre-Mid-American-Conference meet at the MAC Championship course in Kalamazoo, Mich. just looking to gain confidence.

Both teams lost last weekend versus Bowling Green, and Ohio coach Elmore Banton said this weekend is just the beginning of a tough stretch for both his teams.

Kent State, Akron, Marshall and Western Michigan will send both their men's and women's teams this weekend. Northern Illinois will send only its women's team and Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan will send only mens' teams.

The women (0-1) hope to improve on their close loss to Bowling Green.

"We have to get better versus teams like Kent State, who is a powerhouse and Akron, who is the defending conference champ on the women's side, and they are returning everyone from last year," he said.

Banton said he would like to see his women compete with the solid Western Michigan team and just improve this weekend.

He said he mainly was looking for improvement in the gap behind leading runner Jacki Waller and the rest of the team.

"She's (Waller) in the best shape I've ever seen her," graduate assistant coach Melissa Converse said.

Converse agrees with Banton that a pack mentality will lead the women to success this weekend.

"They know they are a young team and have a long way to go, and that they have to work," she said. "If they pack it up a lot more, work together and catch Jacki, they should be successful."

The men (0-1) after last weekend's shutout to Bowling Green are looking to show the MAC what they really have.

"Last weekend was disgusting and embarrassing and just wasn't us," runner Justin Kempe said. "I can see everyone making a huge jump in their times at this race."

Banton knows his team will face some good competition this weekend though.

"Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Kent State all have a chance at the MAC championship this year," he said.

Banton said he is looking for a lead runner to come out and establish himself as a strong leader this weekend.

"Either Mickey (Martin) or Brandon (Grinwis) have to run a good race for us; then the rest of the team just has to close the gap after that," he said.

Kempe said his team's mental set was not in the race last weekend, and Martin, along with the rest of the team, will improve this weekend.

"There is no way seven guys are better on BG's team than Mickey or Brandon," he said.

Banton again echoes that improvement is the key for the Bobcats.

"The attitude and the practices have been very good for both teams, and all I can ask for is improvement from last weekend," he said.

The race will start at 3 p.m. for the men and 3:45 p.m. for the women today in Kalamazoo.