Northwest Christian is beginning its third season in cross country in 2008.
EUGENE, Ore. – When the 2008 cross country seasons get underway for the Beacons, it will be another chance for the men’s and women’s teams to grow and improve and build upon strong team chemistry.
In that spirit of improvement, the teams are growing not just in ability, but in numbers. The 2008 season marks the largest group of runners in school history, as the program enters its third season. The women’s team has six runner while the men’s group is eight strong, providing a bigger sense of competition among the runners to move up into the top-five scoring slots at each race.
Head coach Heike McNeil says, “Some of our new runners have never been pushed in the way they are now, but as they begin to experience the pacing that it takes to start a strong race, they will show tremendous improvements throughout the season.”
The women’s team returns just one athlete, junior Emily Baynes. In addition, sophomore Bethany Howard will run with cross country for the first time, after competing during the spring distance track season. The team is not lacking strength or potential, however, with the arrival of four freshmen. Riley Swanson (Central Point, Ore.) and Brittany Arch (Thurston High School in Eugene) lead the pack. Swanson was a three-time first-team all-league selection at Crater (Ore.) High School and finished third in the state after winning the league championship as a senior. Arch led the Colts to back-to-back conference and district championships as a junior and senior.
Stephanie Hescock (Drain, Ore.) and Veronica Lafaver (Highland, Calif.) round out the recruiting class. Coach McNeil spoke about Hescock saying, “Stephanie is very talented, but just lacks the experience. Our first race will show us where she is at, and give us a step stool as she continues to progress.” The women’s team is looking to make a dent in the Cascade Conference after taking ninth place in 2007. “We can be anywhere from fifth to last in the conference,” said McNeil. “It all depends on what we do with our potential and how well the freshmen adjust to collegiate competition.”
The men’s team will see the return of four runners including Jason Bell, Sam Robinson and both Brandon Kundert and Nick Ackerman, who ran with the distance track team in the spring. Robinson and Kundert will lead the pack this season, and be pushed closely by Bell and four newcomers. Leading the group of newcomers is freshman Robert Rich (Beavercreek, Ore.). Rich was a two-time team MVP, finishing third in conference and 35th at the state 4A championship as a senior. Also coming in is sophomore transfer Tom Gillies (Kingson, Idaho), who ran his freshman year at Southwestern Oregon Community College. “Tom has the experience and is a good runner, who might need some time to get up-to-pace early in the season,” said McNeil.
Rounding out the class, and well in the mix to become one of the “scoring” runners, are Levi Dieu (Coquille, Ore.) and Cody Aucoin (Willamette HS). Coach McNeil said, “Both Levi and Cody have showed enormous potential and they have nowhere to go but up as the season progresses.”
Another area of growth for the NCU cross country program is on the schedule, where the Beacons will host their first ever invitational, welcoming five Cascade Conference schools to the area to compete at Dorris Ranch on Sept 20. In what aims at becoming an annual tradition for the Beacons, the Northwest Christian Invitational gives NCU a chance to show the strength of the school and the entire athletic department, as the entire Northwest Christian community rallies around a successful event. The event also gives the entire NCU athletic administration a chance to put on an event in preparation for hosting the conference meet in 2009.
“This is a milestone event for our cross country program,” said McNeil. “It is very important for our athletes to finally have an event that their friends will be able to attend. Our runners have been part of a loyal fan club for other NCU teams, so it’s exciting to have the chance for the favor to be returned to them.”
The men’s and women’s cross country season begins Sept. 6 when the Beacons travel to Estacada to compete in the Lewis & Clark Invitational, and culminates in the CCC Championship Nov. 8 in Seattle, Wash.