Aug. 14, 2002

Allendale, Mich. - Coming off the most successful season in school history, head coach Jerry Baltes feels 2002 squad can be even better. Last year saw the women's cross country team take fifth place at the NCAA DII National Championships with two women receiving All-American plaudits. The success of the past several years has set a very high standard for the women's program and with the Lakers returning the top 19 runners from last years squad expectations are very high.

"Our team has set their goals to repeat as conference champions, to take the regional title, and compete for the national championship."

Leading the way for the Lakers will be sophomore Natalie Ewing who finished 22nd in the country a year ago. Ewing followed up the cross country performance with a runner up finish in the 3,000 at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track Championships. Natalie set a school record in the 3,000 at the USA Junior Championships in Palo Alto, Cal. with a time of 9:50.

Another key contributor returning to the squad is senior Shannon Antvelink who placed 23rd at the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Nationals. Other returners who will play a vital role in the teams success are Mandi Long, Krista O'Dell, Lindsey Mills, Jennie Seckinger, Diana Martin, Rebecca Winters, Leanne Budde, and Lisa Fishel. All eight have competed in national competition for the Lakers in either cross country or track. Earning All-American honors among that group were Long, who won the 1,500 National Championship at the 2002 NCAA DII Outdoor Track Nationals, O'Dell who placed eighth in the indoor mile, and Mills who placed seventh in three different events.

"We will look to use our experiences from the past NCAA championships and use them to give us the confidence needed to compete for a national title. Our leadership is a great advantage for our team as we have women who know how to get the job done and can show others how to do the same," said Baltes.

The season starts with two low key competitions on their home course. The season heats up with a trip to Chicago as they try to repeat their title at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational and then compete in the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships. The team will then turn their focus to the GLIAC Championships, the NCAA Regionals, and the NCAA Championships.

"Our focus the first half of the season is to get our team prepared for our last three meets. We are honored to host the Great Lakes Regional at Rolling Hills Golf Course and look foward to competing for a regional title in front of a home crowd and moving on to Ashland, Ohio for the Nationals."