Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Cross Country Prepares For MAC Championship
10/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 29, 2002
THE TEAM - The Central Michigan University men's cross country team is traveling to Oxford, Ohio, for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship on Saturday, November 2, at 11 a.m. The competition features 12 MAC schools , three of which are ranked in the Great Lakes Region Poll, No. 1 Eastern Michigan, No. 3 CMU and No. 10 Miami.
Two teams also find themselves in the national polls with the No. 7 ranked Eastern squaring off against the No. 8 Chippewas. In their only meeting this year, Eastern Michigan took second at the Roy Griak Invitational with 105 points, while CMU finished seventh (230) at the 28-team event.
PREPARING FOR SHOWDOWN - "We knew at the beginning of the season Eastern Michigan would be picked to win the MAC and we would be picked to finish second," head coach Craig Fuller said. "It's nice that now instead of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the MAC going at it, it's now the No. 7 team in the nation going against the No. 8 team.
"What we have to do to counter a No.1-2 Eastern Michigan finish. We have to have seven guys ahead of their fifth guy. We also need some help from top-runners Chris Stine of Western Michigan, Steve Padgett of Miami, and Jeremy Slick of Buffalo. If they could break up a top-two finish by Eastern Michigan. That would really help us out," Fuller said.
EXECUTIVE DECISION - Sophomore Tristen Perlberg of Bay City, sophomore Jake Flynn of Benzonia, junior Dave Ernsberger of Petoskey, junior Luke Humphrey of Sidney, junior Jeff Davis of Temperance, junior Don Wilkins of Trenton, senior Pete Remein of Ishpeming, and sophomore Jacob Crowe of Grand Ledge are traveling to Oxford, Ohio, to run in the meet.
The final spot will go to either junior Ron Miller of Stanton or senior Brian Terpak of Riverview. The decision will not be made until after Wednesday.
STORIES FROM THE PAST - The Chippewas have enjoyed success at the MAC championships over the last 20 years. They won MAC titles in 1982, 1988, 1989, and 1999. The 1989 squad was district champions and took 19th at the NCAA championships. The 1998 team finished 20th at the NCAA championships. Six Chippewa harriers have brought home individual MAC championships. The most recent was Richie Brinker in 1998.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - "It's kind of unusual to be as good as we are with all of our runners coming from Michigan," Fuller said. "We just try to find hard working runners that we can find in state, while other teams look all over the nation. "This is going to be a big year for us. With a high finish nationally, that will help us in the recruiting battle," Fuller said. "The problem is some of these top high school runners want to run for us, but it takes more then being a No. 1 runner at your high school in order to run for us."
