Saturday, October 27
Flagstaff, AZ
M- 10:00 AM; W- 11:00 AM
Montana State University
at
BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
Conference Calling
10/25/2012 8:30:00 AM | Cross Country
Cross Country heads to Flagstaff for 2012 Championship
The next phase is here and the Bobcats are ready to put it all on the line. The Big Sky Championship marks the second of three meets in what head coach Dale Kennedy calls the “championship series” of the cross country season. Hosted by Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 27, the 2012 Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championship will surely provide quality races for both the men and the women.
While the women have a very young roster and have faced assorted adversity over the course of the 2012 slate, Kennedy still has a lot of confidence in how they could fare in Flagstaff.
Leading the way this season has been junior Heather Demorest, who has been MSU's highest finisher throughout the season, including a second place finish at the Montana Invitational and placing sixth at the Montana State Invitational to kick off the season. Last year, Demorest came in 16th place overall in the 5K race with a time of 18:42.75. This season, she's posted a time of 17:44.50 in that distance.
The only other Bobcats returning to the conference meet are Emily Garneau and Taylor Rather. Garneau placed 50th in 2011 with a time of 20:39.50. Garneau's fastest 5K time this fall is 18:58.9, which she clocked at the Montana Invitational back on Sept. 28. Rather finished in 48th in her freshman campaign in 20:36.81.
A slew of Bobcat rookies fill out the remainder of the roster but Kennedy knows they are prepared for their first Big Sky appearance. Making their debut race at the meet will be Rachel Atwood, Megan Beam, Michelle Cline, Kaylee Schmitz and Rachel Sullivan.
“It's Coach Weese's and my job to make sure the team is ready,” Kennedy said. “While the women have a lot of illness that's plagued them throughout the fall and they're a young squad, they need to know they are more prepared than they think they are. They've put the work in and I think they'll continue to progress this weekend.”
Last year, the women placed fourth overall and were picked fifth in the 2012 preseason poll.
On the men's side, a team mixed of veterans and newcomers certainly have high expectations of themselves. Following a preseason ranking of third, and the same finish in 2011, the Bobcats have their sights set a little higher.
Cristian Soratos, a transfer from Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif. comes into the weekend with lots of momentum in his rookie season in the Blue and Gold. Most recently he finished 25th out of over 270 competitors at the Pre-National Invitational in Louisville, Ky. Prior to the Pre-National meet, he won the Montana Invitational 8K race with a time of 25:04.9.
Soratos isn't the only one making strides for the Bobcat men, though. The depth of the team became apparent at the Montana Invite when MSU swept the top seven places. Just two weeks prior at the season opener, all of the “super seven” placed in the top-25 of the MSU Invitational. Jacob Kirk was the 2011 highest finisher, coming in ninth place to earn All-Big Sky accolades. Seth Garbett, Forrest Jarvi and Trevor Polson will also bring a few years of experience with them to Flagstaff.
“NAU is the favorite headed into the meet but that doesn't mean they've sealed anything up,” said Kennedy. “However, it could be a great battle between second, third and fourth places among us, Weber and Southern Utah. Anything could happen.”
While on the course, each student-athlete is essentially racing against each other and the clock, Kennedy emphasized the importance of the team aspect, since there is an overall team championship title on the line.
“There's magic in believing,” he said. “It's all about the collective vision. It's not any one kid. It's about the group. Sure, we have the potential for some all-conference performances but I know each one of our runners is thinking about the entire team before they think of themselves.”
Two new programs will make their Big Sky Conference debut since the addition of North Dakota and Southern Utah. Last year, Northern Arizona won the men's team competition and enters Saturday's race as the five-time defending champion. NAU has won 16 of the last 20 championships. Weber's Amber Henry who was the 2011 individual champion will be racing for the defending champions at Weber State. Since 2000, Weber has won three team titles.
The men's 8K race will begin at 10 a.m. (MDT) and the women will follow at 11 a.m. in the 5K.
While the women have a very young roster and have faced assorted adversity over the course of the 2012 slate, Kennedy still has a lot of confidence in how they could fare in Flagstaff.
Leading the way this season has been junior Heather Demorest, who has been MSU's highest finisher throughout the season, including a second place finish at the Montana Invitational and placing sixth at the Montana State Invitational to kick off the season. Last year, Demorest came in 16th place overall in the 5K race with a time of 18:42.75. This season, she's posted a time of 17:44.50 in that distance.
The only other Bobcats returning to the conference meet are Emily Garneau and Taylor Rather. Garneau placed 50th in 2011 with a time of 20:39.50. Garneau's fastest 5K time this fall is 18:58.9, which she clocked at the Montana Invitational back on Sept. 28. Rather finished in 48th in her freshman campaign in 20:36.81.
A slew of Bobcat rookies fill out the remainder of the roster but Kennedy knows they are prepared for their first Big Sky appearance. Making their debut race at the meet will be Rachel Atwood, Megan Beam, Michelle Cline, Kaylee Schmitz and Rachel Sullivan.
“It's Coach Weese's and my job to make sure the team is ready,” Kennedy said. “While the women have a lot of illness that's plagued them throughout the fall and they're a young squad, they need to know they are more prepared than they think they are. They've put the work in and I think they'll continue to progress this weekend.”
Last year, the women placed fourth overall and were picked fifth in the 2012 preseason poll.
On the men's side, a team mixed of veterans and newcomers certainly have high expectations of themselves. Following a preseason ranking of third, and the same finish in 2011, the Bobcats have their sights set a little higher.
Cristian Soratos, a transfer from Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif. comes into the weekend with lots of momentum in his rookie season in the Blue and Gold. Most recently he finished 25th out of over 270 competitors at the Pre-National Invitational in Louisville, Ky. Prior to the Pre-National meet, he won the Montana Invitational 8K race with a time of 25:04.9.
Soratos isn't the only one making strides for the Bobcat men, though. The depth of the team became apparent at the Montana Invite when MSU swept the top seven places. Just two weeks prior at the season opener, all of the “super seven” placed in the top-25 of the MSU Invitational. Jacob Kirk was the 2011 highest finisher, coming in ninth place to earn All-Big Sky accolades. Seth Garbett, Forrest Jarvi and Trevor Polson will also bring a few years of experience with them to Flagstaff.
“NAU is the favorite headed into the meet but that doesn't mean they've sealed anything up,” said Kennedy. “However, it could be a great battle between second, third and fourth places among us, Weber and Southern Utah. Anything could happen.”
While on the course, each student-athlete is essentially racing against each other and the clock, Kennedy emphasized the importance of the team aspect, since there is an overall team championship title on the line.
“There's magic in believing,” he said. “It's all about the collective vision. It's not any one kid. It's about the group. Sure, we have the potential for some all-conference performances but I know each one of our runners is thinking about the entire team before they think of themselves.”
Two new programs will make their Big Sky Conference debut since the addition of North Dakota and Southern Utah. Last year, Northern Arizona won the men's team competition and enters Saturday's race as the five-time defending champion. NAU has won 16 of the last 20 championships. Weber's Amber Henry who was the 2011 individual champion will be racing for the defending champions at Weber State. Since 2000, Weber has won three team titles.
The men's 8K race will begin at 10 a.m. (MDT) and the women will follow at 11 a.m. in the 5K.
Dale Kennedy - Media Day | Nov. 12, 2013
Wednesday, November 13
Cristian Soratos - Media Day | Oct. 22, 2013
Wednesday, October 23
Coach Kennedy Media Day | 10/15/13
Wednesday, October 16
Heather Demorest | Oct. 1, 2013
Thursday, October 03
