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2006 Cross Country Outlook

 

September 6, 2006

 

by Tim Mollerstrom

Eastern Oregon Sports Information

 

 

Coach Ben Welch and Assistant Coach Jack Kegg are hoping the Cross Country program will continue to improve upon the success they had last year.  While the Mountaineer women’s Cross Country team was ranked eighth before the NAIA National Cross Country Championships last year, many of those runners are gone.

 

 

“We’re a pretty young team this year,” Welch said.  “We graduated a lot of leadership from last year, but we have a very talented group.”  The women are ranked 22nd in the preseason poll.

 

 

“It’s a group that will improve drastically over the season,” Welch said.  “In our time trials, I’ve seen some times that are comparable to some of the better teams I’ve had in the past.”

 

 

Sophomores Chelsee Harmon (Hermiston, Ore.) and Marcella Bosch (Boise, Ida.) were two runners that saw great improvements in their time trials earlier this season.

 

 

Coach Welch also looks for some strong performances from two transfers, Sophomores Katie Clapp (Clackamas, Ore.) and Kendra Stone (Roseburg, Ore.)

 

 

“Our season will depend on who’s willing to step it up, both mentally and physically.”

                 

 

The men’s team, which just missed the national meet as a group last year, will be returning some strong runners and will also red shirt some runners for tactical and developmental reasons. 

 

 

“We’ll be thinner as a team, but have some good talent,” Welch said.  “They’re just going to have to step up and be willing to step into the spotlight.”

 

 

Juniors Troy Blackburn (Stanfield, Ore.) and Josh Cobb (Port Orchard, Wash.) will be called upon for a strong season.  “Troy will be a strong front runner and had some major improvements this past spring,” Welch said.  “Josh isn’t afraid to be the go to guy when the chips are down.”

 

 

Junior Morgan Saltenberger (Kenai, Alaska) will help the team once he returns from a stress fracture injury.  “He’ll be an x-factor,” Welch said.  “He should be able to go later this year, and will definitely help us based on last year’s performance.”

 

 

The teams will start their season this Saturday, September 9 at the Northwest Nazarene University Invite in Nampa, Idaho.

 

 

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