A resurgence of history: Hillsdale cross country
Andrew Dodson
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports
Spectators and athletes of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) know the powerhouse school of cross country and track and field since the start of the millennium: Grand Valley State University.
But, often, the rich running tradition Hillsdale created throughout the mid 1980s and the entire 1990s goes unappreciated and forgotten.
From 1985 to 2000, the Hillsdale men and women's cross country program compiled 19 GLIAC championships, eight Athletes of the Year and 14 Coach of the Year honors.
In 1994, the Hillsdale women's squad ran to a perfect score of 15 at the conference meet, placing first through fifth. The men nearly did the same thing in that year, scoring 16 points.
Currently, Grand Valley won the past six conference titles and looks to add number seven without their several time All-American Nate Peck, who graduated.
This year, the Charger men and women's teams return key veterans and enjoy one of the largest freshman classes in the program's history hoping to help pop GVSU out of a lucky No. 7 win.
Returning runners to look for include sophomores Alex Ralston and Chuck Wysong and juniors Timothy Howse and Joel Vanderworp, a captain.
On the women's side, captains Erin Cvengros and Marion Gabl look to hold top running positions, along with middle-distance specialist Amy Luke.
Last season's All-GLIAC team runner, sophomore Erin Brunko, is redshirted due to stress fractures in both her legs.
In order for both programs to return to the dominance of the 1990s, pack running will be key because it narrows the gap between the team's first and fifth runners.
While Hillsdale is not favored to take home the conference title on either side this season, they could play spoiler for teams such as Wayne State University and Ashland University, potentially creeping into the top three.
The season officially starts this Friday with the Michigan State Invitational.
It is common throughout the season for the Chargers to compete against top Division I teams, including the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame.
Ferris State University will host the NCAA Great Lakes Regional this year and the NCAA National Championships are in Slippery Rock, Penn., on Nov. 22.
Cross Country Athletes to Watch:
Tim Jagielski:
In high school, Jagielski captured two individual state championships in cross country his junior year and in the mile run for track his senior year. Hailing from Waldron, Mich., Jagielski is familiar with the Hillsdale area and worked out with assistant coach Michael Nikkila during the summer, preparing for his first collegiate cross country season. Jagielski's teammates and coaches see true potential in him because he was not often pushed in high school races, commonly winning races with no one else in sight. Look toward Jagielski as a contender for GLIAC Freshman of the Year this cross country season.
Erin Cvengros:
Cvengros enters into her junior season for the Chargers as captain of the women's cross country team. Freshman year, fellow runners voted her top newcomer, and last season she earned the most improved award. Her 18th place finish at the NCAA Regional race showed her true speed. Cvengros said she looks to improve this ranking and lead her team to the NCAA Championships. Cvengros hopes to better her personal records of 18:42 for the 5-kilometer and 22:44 for the 6-km and capture all-conference honors.
Main Rules to Cross Country:
Men run an 8-kilometer race at most meets and a 10-km race at the NCAA regionals and nationals. Women run 6-km races.
Like golf, the low score wins. If a runner wins a race, he or she gets one point for their team. The top five runners from each team add up their score for the final team score. Fifteen is a perfect score.
Two additional runners from each team are included in results but not scored for the team. The six and seventh runner look to knock off top five runners from opposing teams.
The first individual to cross the line is the winner.
But, often, the rich running tradition Hillsdale created throughout the mid 1980s and the entire 1990s goes unappreciated and forgotten.
From 1985 to 2000, the Hillsdale men and women's cross country program compiled 19 GLIAC championships, eight Athletes of the Year and 14 Coach of the Year honors.
In 1994, the Hillsdale women's squad ran to a perfect score of 15 at the conference meet, placing first through fifth. The men nearly did the same thing in that year, scoring 16 points.
Currently, Grand Valley won the past six conference titles and looks to add number seven without their several time All-American Nate Peck, who graduated.
This year, the Charger men and women's teams return key veterans and enjoy one of the largest freshman classes in the program's history hoping to help pop GVSU out of a lucky No. 7 win.
Returning runners to look for include sophomores Alex Ralston and Chuck Wysong and juniors Timothy Howse and Joel Vanderworp, a captain.
On the women's side, captains Erin Cvengros and Marion Gabl look to hold top running positions, along with middle-distance specialist Amy Luke.
Last season's All-GLIAC team runner, sophomore Erin Brunko, is redshirted due to stress fractures in both her legs.
In order for both programs to return to the dominance of the 1990s, pack running will be key because it narrows the gap between the team's first and fifth runners.
While Hillsdale is not favored to take home the conference title on either side this season, they could play spoiler for teams such as Wayne State University and Ashland University, potentially creeping into the top three.
The season officially starts this Friday with the Michigan State Invitational.
It is common throughout the season for the Chargers to compete against top Division I teams, including the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame.
Ferris State University will host the NCAA Great Lakes Regional this year and the NCAA National Championships are in Slippery Rock, Penn., on Nov. 22.
Cross Country Athletes to Watch:
Tim Jagielski:
In high school, Jagielski captured two individual state championships in cross country his junior year and in the mile run for track his senior year. Hailing from Waldron, Mich., Jagielski is familiar with the Hillsdale area and worked out with assistant coach Michael Nikkila during the summer, preparing for his first collegiate cross country season. Jagielski's teammates and coaches see true potential in him because he was not often pushed in high school races, commonly winning races with no one else in sight. Look toward Jagielski as a contender for GLIAC Freshman of the Year this cross country season.
Erin Cvengros:
Cvengros enters into her junior season for the Chargers as captain of the women's cross country team. Freshman year, fellow runners voted her top newcomer, and last season she earned the most improved award. Her 18th place finish at the NCAA Regional race showed her true speed. Cvengros said she looks to improve this ranking and lead her team to the NCAA Championships. Cvengros hopes to better her personal records of 18:42 for the 5-kilometer and 22:44 for the 6-km and capture all-conference honors.
Main Rules to Cross Country:
Men run an 8-kilometer race at most meets and a 10-km race at the NCAA regionals and nationals. Women run 6-km races.
Like golf, the low score wins. If a runner wins a race, he or she gets one point for their team. The top five runners from each team add up their score for the final team score. Fifteen is a perfect score.
Two additional runners from each team are included in results but not scored for the team. The six and seventh runner look to knock off top five runners from opposing teams.
The first individual to cross the line is the winner.
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