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2008 Season Recap
An infusion of newcomers has given the Bulldog cross country program a lift this fall.
Fall workouts began with the Bulldogs looking for someone to step in and join returning All-KCAC performer Brent Bailey, Limon, Colo., and junior Shaun Griffin, Inman, Kan., at the front of the Bulldog pack. With 2007 KCAC champion Israel Ortiz having exhausted his eligibility, freshman Oliver Williams, Salt Lake City, quickly made his presence felt. Williams has been the first Bulldog to cross the finish line in each of the Bulldogs’ six meets leading up to the conference championships. Williams’ move up the Bulldogs’ all-time 8-kilometer list has also been rapid as he now stands as the #2 individual, with the #4 time, just 17.5 seconds behind Ortiz’ list-leading mark. Twice this fall, Williams has been honored as the KCAC “Male Cross Country Runner of the Week.”
With Williams, Bailey, and Griffin leading the way, and all three capable of earning All-KCAC honors, the Bulldogs’ other scoring positions have generally been filled by sophomore Matt Brown, Bothell, Wash., freshmen Josh Nilles, Goddard, Kan., David Parry, Morganville, Kan., and junior transfer Leterius Ray, Wichita, Kan.
The men’s best team finish came
Homecoming weekend when they won the McPherson Invitational behind
the one-two finish of Williams and Bailey. Peaking at the right
time, all ten of the Bulldogs competing at the Southwestern/Mid-States
Classic clocked season bests. The KCAC Championships held
November 8 at Lindsborg also served as the NAIA national qualifier. Williams
placed ninth overall and Bailey tenth, with the best times of
their collegiate careers and earning All-KCAC first team honors.
Griffin ran his collegiate best while just missing a spot on the
all-conference squad. Williams’ placing also earned
him a spot in the NAIA National meet to be held Nov. 22 in Kenosho,
Wis.
Williams took on a field
of 331 individual competitors in Kenosha and came across the finish
in 139th place a time of 26:26.0. Finishing fourth among
the KCAC runners in the meet, Williams' overall placing was the
best by a Bulldog in the recent history of competition at the
NAIA national championships and his time was just nine seconds
off his season best.
Leading the way for the Lady Bulldogs have been freshmen Katie Logan, Clay Center, Kan., and Kati Beam, McPherson, Kan. Pushing the freshmen duo have been senior Megan Meyer, Beloit, Kan., and freshman Krissa Fuentes, Arvada, Colo. Logan, Beam, and Meyer all ran season best times at Southwestern College. In their final run of the season, it was Beam leading the way for the McPherson women as she finished 23rd overall at the KCAC meet. The Lady Bulldogs were not eligible for team honors at the KCAC meet due to not having at least five members participating.
The Bulldogs were privileged to have the McPherson Country Club as their home course again this year.
