Cross country gears up for action
David Jordan
Issue date: 9/7/09 Section: Sports
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UMKC's Cosmas Avabei got first place in the men's 6K, with a time of 19:11.41. The women's team finished second overall with 78 points. The men finished fifth overall with a total of 157 points.
It was a homecoming for Head Coach Shameika McField, who was a stand-out athlete in the track and field program at the University of Kansas from 1998-2003.
"I'm excited, KU is my [alma mater]," McField said prior to the meet. "It's always fun just going to compete against your old school. I think it's going to be a fun meet for us and just open up the season to see where we're at and what we need to work on."
Last year, the men's team took eighth place at the Summit League Championships, while the women took ninth.
McField challenges her runners in daily practice and brings the best out of them both physically and mentally.
"In practice, we challenge them," she said. "It's not so much about pushing them and making it hard, it's about challenging them and taking them to a new level. This sport is all mental, we have to prepare them."
In preseason rankings for the Summit League Conference, the Kangaroo men were tied eighth with Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne and the women were ninth. However, this year's teams will compete against the power houses of Southern Utah's men's team and South Dakota State's women's team - both of which were both picked to finish first for the 2009 season.
"I think anything is possible," McField said about her expectations of winning the Summit League Conference.
Southern Utah's men have won the Summit League title three years in a row. The South Dakota State women won their first ever cross country championship last year and seek a repeat this year.
However, McField still remains optimistic.
"We need a few more individuals who are developed to actually win it, but I think we can come close to getting our goals accomplished," she said.
Surprisingly, neither the men's or women's team has any seniors, so McField will be depending on a few key returners and some new Roos.
Among returners for the men's team, junior Laban Mutai looks to have a strong season and lead his team to victory. Mutai captured ninth place at the Summit League Championships last year and earned a spot on the all-Summit League second team two years straight.
Sophomore Brett Guemmer is looking to make a mark on the Summit League Conference as well.
For those returning to the women's team, McField expressed confidence in sophomores Aubrey Frederking and Etageon O'Neill.
"They have a year under their belts, they had that learning experience and they know exactly what to expect," McField said.
When it came to talking about her supporting coaching staff, McField's first word was "Wow!"
The assistant cross country coach, Clif Mitchell, is a great help to the team.
"Coach Mitchell has done a fabulous job with the athletes," McField said. "He does a great job with developing them, he does a great job of motivating them, and he does a great job at everything."
For the up-and-coming season, the Roos will compete in four meets and the Summit League Championships with hopes of making it to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
djordan@unews.com
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