Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1998 Men's Cross Country
Season Outlook
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| Ben Thompson |
Cedarville College men's cross country is on the rise and the Yellow Jackets hope to continue their move up the rankings. The harriers were rated as high as 17th among the NAIA's Top 25 squads last season, but the Jackets bested that placement by five spots at the national meet where they placed 12th. Head coach Elvin King expects continued improvement this fall.
"Overall, I think the men's team is stronger this year," he said. "We lost four seniors who competed at the NAIA Nationals, but I believe we can make up for that loss with the talent we have in place."
Senior Ben Thompson enters the year as the team's number one runner. He was the Jackets top finisher in five of eight outings in 1997 including the last four in a row. After earning all-conference (4th place finish) and NCCAA All-America honors (8th), he placed 36th out 336 competitors at the NAIA Nationals.
Ed Letts returns following an outstanding freshman campaign. He was the team's number two runner in five meets, garnered NCCAA All-America recognition, and was on Thompson's heels at the NAIA where he finished 37th.
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| Ed letts |
The other returnee who competed in the NAIA Nationals in 1997 is senior Joel Peterson. He assumed the team's third spot in the lineup.
Four other runners possess experience in the Yellow Jacket program. The quartet includes junior Scott Ruhlman and sophomores Ken Loescher, Eddie Nehus, and Steven Wakefield. Nehus was the NCCAA and conference track champion in the 800 meters last year.
A talented crop of freshmen has the ability to make an influence on the varsity. The rookies are Jody Fox, Justin Gerber, and Dan Plaatje.
The schedule is again highlighted by two meets at home at John Bryan State Park. The Eighth Annual Friendship Invitational will be on September 26 with the NCCAA Nationals on November 14. The NCCAA field will feature the likes of defending champion Taylor, perennial NAIA power Malone, Cumberland and Indiana Wesleyan. The Jackets also begin competition in the American Mideast Conference.
