Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1998 Women's Cross Country
Season Outlook
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| Becky Jordan |
The Cedarville College women's cross country team has the simple goal of remaining part of the rather exclusive club that they have been members of in each of the past five seasons – the NAIA Top 20. Coach Elvin King's Lady Jackets have established themselves as one of the association's top distance programs in the country and the experience is present to help keep them there.
Cedarville was ranked as high as 14th in 1997 before settling for a 19th-place showing at the NAIA Nationals. Beginning in 1993, the women finished 18th in the national meet and then really made a name for themselves by ending up 9th, 7th, and 5th, respectively, in the nation.
"We've just had great kids, both as runners and students," said King, whose squad was the NAIA Scholar-Team Award winner last year with a 3.70 combined GPA. "We've had determined runners who have always pulled together as a unit. That has translated into success in competition as well."
Cedarville has been a key player in the National Christian College Athletic Association Championships. Over the past ten years, the Lady Jackets have finished no worse than third in each meet and they own two national titles during that span. What's more, the women have claimed five of the past six conference championships.
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| Jill Breckenfeld |
Amidst this impressive portfolio of past team accomplishments, King will look to one of the finest runners the program has ever had to be the leader on this squad. Becky Jordan, a senior from Indianapolis, has the opportunity to become the first Cedarville cross country runner, male or female, to earn NAIA All-America honors (top 30 finishers) four times.
"Even as a young runner on our great teams, Becky was consistently near the top," King recalled. "She is a tremendous example as a person, a student, and an athlete."
Jordan, who is also a three-time NAIA All-American in track as well as an All-America Scholar-Athlete, heads a list of returning seniors that includes Jill Breckenfeld, Jori Forward, and Christy Taylor. All four have three years of experience in the program.
"It will be important for the seniors to keep the program strong," King stated. "They have had good leadership before them and now it's their turn. They are very qualified to get the job done."
Breckenfeld, who placed eighth in the NAIA marathon last spring, and Taylor are both All-America Scholar-Athletes. They, along with Forward and sophomore Sarah Pollock, finished the 1997 season among the varsity's top seven runners.
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 Jackets also begin competition in the American Mideast Conference.
