BETHANY, Okla. — Endurance, patience and timing are a just a few of the mental aspects that fall into distance running. Arguably, one of the most mentally challenging sports around, the 2011 cross country season for Southern Nazarene gets underway Saturday.
Both teams are coming off years in which the men took fifth and the women took sixth in one of the tougher conferences in the NAIA in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
However, SNU Head Coach
Billy Miller thinks that both teams will be stronger than last year and ready to surprise some people.
“I really expect the women to surprise me this year,” said Miller. “We have 7-9 girls right there together and that's huge in cross country. We have some talent coming back and some quality runners coming in. The chemistry is great as well. On the men's side we are close to becoming that solid unit.”
The top runner from a year ago for SNU, Chesney Burgweger, returns for her senior year. She posted a career best 20:27.14 and took 19th at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships.
Joining Burgweger at the front of the pack will be the only other senior in Rachel Murphey who struggled with some injuries last year, but is expected to be back and healthy to start the 2011 season.
Close behind those seniors will be Hannah Griffis who looks to deepen the field after she was a two-time all-state selection and three-time state qualifier at Bethany (Okla.) High School. Brittany Hall will also help after she transferred from Oklahoma City University where she was a six-time NAIA All-American in the Stars' track program. Another transfer that will push SNU is Catalina Keo. She ran two season for Neosho County CC and was a two-time all-conference selection at Lawton (Okla.) High School. Sara Keller ran three varsity season at Manhattan (Mont.) High School and is expected to be in the mix throughout the season. Angela Zanotti also returns for her junior year after she took 35th at the SAC Championships with a season-best 21:38.
“I've got seven girls who can run 20 minutes or under this year,” said Miller. “These girls are committed to getting better and going after high goals. It's a fun atmosphere to come in and hear them say just tell us what to do and we'll get it done. There's no drama. We have great leaders. While these may be our top runners, they are being pushed by everyone behind them who's right there with them”
On the men's side Aaron Goble is poised for the best season in his career. Goble finished 17th at the SAC Championships with a season-best 25:50. Seth Carley, who redshirted last year, will join Goble up front. As a 2009 junior, Carley posted a career-best 26:10.27 at the SAC Championships where he took 10th. Behind those two will be an outstanding freshman and top recruit in the state of Oklahoma in Andrew Leahey who was a state champion at Ardmore (Okla.) High School. Another highly touted recruit is Nigel Hampton who was a three-time all-state selection at Watonga (Okla.) High school. Collin Whitsett is expected to round out the top five after he ran a 28:41 at the SAC Championships as a junior.
“We are going to have some opportunities for some guys to step up and have a chance to get to nationals,” said Miller.
The rest of the team should help balance out and push the top runners.
Seven meets are on the slate for Southern Nazarene outside the NAIA National Championships. The Crimson Storm get underway at the J.K. Gold Classic before coming back near home to run at the UCO Land Run. SNU will then run at the Southern Stampede, the Cowboy Jamboree and the Chile Pepper Festival. The Storm will conclude the regular season with the Mid-States Classic before running at the SAC Championships the first week of November.
The NAIA National Championships are set for Nov. 19 in Vancouver, Wash.
