GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Cedarville University women’s cross country program will once again have a target on its back while pursuing a potential third consecutive Great Midwest Athletic Conference team title this fall.
But it’s not an unfamiliar position for the Yellow Jackets, who continue to rise to meet and exceed expectations under the direction of head coach Jeff Bolender, who has been a staple with the institution since 2001.
Cedarville’s two-time G-MAC Runner of the Year and junior Alex Archambault (22:32.30 – 2013 G-MAC Championships 5k time) is back for more and young talent across the board continues to be the theme for the sport in a growing league.
On paper, all 20 combined first and second-team all-conference selections are assumed to return (not including outgoing transfers) with only two seniors from that group concluding their accomplished careers this fall.
A heralded contingent of underclassmen featuring four sophomores and six freshmen comprised the all-conference first team, including four runners from Cedarville and three more from Trevecca University.
Cedarville freshmen Olivia Esbenshade (24:05.90) and Rachel Groh (24:07.60) placed eighth and ninth, respectively, while Kristin Lamaan (24:08.60) rounded out the top 10.
A trio of Trevecca freshman runners also clumped together towards the top of the field, Lindsey Mathis (23:53.40), Katie Hix (23:54.80) and Biz McClendon (24:05.90) to earn fifth, sixth and seventh, overall.
The Yellow Jackets have hoisted the hardware in 2012 and 2013 as team conference champions and a host of emerging competition continues to try to narrow the gap between the reigning G-MAC Coach of the Year Bolender and his program.
“We do have a number of our athletes coming back from last year and we’re excited about those girls,” Bolender said. “We’re looking forward to freshmen who have had some success in high school running. We’re optimistic and a lot of things can happen throughout the course of a season, but we’ll keep working hard to get better every week.”
Alderson Broaddus University junior Jenny Brewer (23:01.20) will lead the Battlers after finishing second only to Archambault to earn her first-team all-conference accolades.
Archambault culminated another sensational year filled with record-breaking superlatives by finishing seventh overall in a field of 227 runners at the NCCAA National Championships while the Yellow Jackets earned sixth as a team.
“I’m excited to see the hard work that everyone has put in, pay off,” said Archambault, a native of Stafford, N.H. “We’ll keep getting better as the season goes through. The first meet is a really good starting point and we’ll see how everyone progresses from there.”
Ursuline College sisters Michelle (23:03.10) and Melissa Klim (24:09.10) were both on the all-conference team and Michelle earned G-MAC Freshman of the Year distinction, ultimately finishing third in the conference championships. The sibling pairing is not on the Arrows’ roster for this fall.
Junior Nicole Burlinson (23:47.20) returns and was also fourth overall in the field for the Arrows of Ursuline, who finished third as a team last year only behind Trevecca and Cedarville.
Ohio Valley University and Davis & Elkins College each bring back their all-conference representatives, second teamers April Kirk (24:28.10) and Ellen Cantaral (24:39.10). Cantaral and Melanie Redfield (24:31.60) of Cedarville are the lone seniors from the extensive list of 2013 all-conference performers heading into this season.
“The teams are always striving to get to the top of the heap, so to speak,” Bolender added. “Ursuline had a good team last year and they’re young. Trevecca had a very good team and they’re young. I’m sure everybody is going try to get to the top.”
The first date of competition for the G-MAC is slated for Friday, Sept. 5, and the regular season will close on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
This year’s men’s and women’s conference championships are scheduled for Saturday, November 8, in Owensboro, Ky., with Kentucky Wesleyan University serving as host. The 2014 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be held on Dec. 6 in Louisville, Ky., at Tom Sawyer Park.
NOTE: Preseason polls were not conducted by the coaches for cross country
2013 G-MAC Women's Cross Country Championship Results
1. Cedarville University
2. Trevecca University
3. Ursuline College
4. Alderson Broaddus University
T5. Davis & Elkins College
T5. Ohio Valley University
7. Kentucky Wesleyan College
8. Salem International University
9. Central State University