Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1997 Men's and Women's Cross Country
Women's Season Outlook
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| Becky Jordan (right) |
The Cedarville College women's cross country program is realistic about the 1997 season. The Lady Jackets are coming off of the two best seasons in school history -- 5th in the NAIA and an NCCAA championship banner in 1996, and 7th in the NAIA in 1995. What's more, they are the five-time defending Mid-Ohio Conference champions. Even though four quality runners graduated from that squad, the talent level is not at "rebuilding year" proportions.
"We still have a quality group of runners," head coach Elvin King said assuredly. "There is good potential from our newcomers and we'll have good leadership from the upperclassmen. While we may not have the numbers of outstanding runners like we've had in recent years, we'll be an NAIA Top 25 program."
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| Christy Taylor (right) |
The top returning runner is junior Becky Jordan, who is a two-time NAIA and NCCAA All-American. She will be joined by another NCCAA All-American, senior Rebecca Jenks. Fellow seniors Rachelle Elder and Megan Stevens Hill along with juniors Christy Taylor and Jori Forward provide the Lady Jackets with a solid nucleus.
The women's cross country program has proven to be excellent in the classroom as well. Last year, they had the fourth-highest team combined GPA in the NAIA at 3.75. Elder, Jenks, and Hill were each All-America Scholar-Athletes last fall.
Cedarville will again host two meets at John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, OH. The Seventh Annual Friendship Invitational will take place on Sept. 20 with the NCCAA Nationals on Nov. 8.
Men's Season Outlook
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| Eric Crawford |
The Cedarville College men's cross country program is filled with optimism entering the 1997 season. The Yellow Jackets were rated as high as 17th in the NAIA last year and they are hoping to go even higher this fall.
"We are definitely stronger than last year's team, proclaimed head coach Elvin King. "Our upperclassmen are running better, our freshmen will be a positive factor, and all of that means we have a real balanced line-up."
Senior Eric Crawford has been the team's number one runner the past three years. He was an NCCAA All-American last year and also earned a spot on the All-Mid-Ohio Conference Team.
Junior Ben Thompson is back after being injured for the first part of the 1996 season. He was the squad's top finisher at the NAIA Nationals.
Other returning runners include seniors Steve McGillivrayand David Rea, juniors Chris Merrelland Joel Peterson, as well as sophomores Craig Shank and Scott Ruhlman.
Home meets will again be held at John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, OH. Cedarville will host its Seventh Annual Friendship Invitational on Sept. 20 with the NCCAA Nationals on Nov. 8.
