Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Harriers Looking to Qualify For Nationals
11/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 10, 2005
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- Bids to the NCAA Championships are up for grabs this weekend as the Central Michigan University men's cross country team competes in the Great Lakes Regional on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana University is the host for the 10K race on the IU Cross Country course. The men's competition begins at 11 a.m., while the women's 6K begins at 12:15 p.m.
The top two teams from the region and the top four individuals not on qualifying teams advance to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 at Indiana State. At-large bids are also awarded for teams and individuals based on the regional performances.
"Our top two runners, Matt Loiselle and Jeff Powers, have a shot at advancing to nationals," head coach Craig Fuller said. "We are in a really tough region and I expect five or six teams to qualify for nationals, more here than from any other region. Loiselle and Powers will probably have to be the top MAC runners to qualify."
Fuller described the course as a true cross country course which has hosted the NCAA Championships before.
"It is very challenging," he said. "It is hilly and demanding. A lot of coaches don't like it because times are slow and it can take a lot out of you right before nationals. The type of course doesn't matter to us because it is the same for everybody."
One thing of concern for Fuller is the fact that only Loiselle has competed in the longer 10K race at the college level.
"There's no question we're young and we'll see how the guys respond," Fuller said. "A lot of teams are flat at this time of the year and if our top two run well we could be up near the top 10. We're hoping to beat some teams like Ohio and Kent State that beat us at the MAC meet."
A total of 31 teams from four different states -- Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin -- will compete in the meet. Wisconsin and Notre Dame are both competing in the meet and they are ranked No. 1 and No. 5, respectively, in the nation according to the Nov. 1 MONDO Cross Country Poll.
The Chippewas are coming off a fifth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships back on Oct. 29 at Northern Illinois. Eastern Michigan won the title, snapping CMU's string of three straight titles.
Loiselle and Powers took home All-MAC honors for CMU. Loiselle earned first team laurels with a fourth-place finish, completing the 8K loop in 24:39. The sophomore earned second team honors last season with a 12th-place showing.
Powers was 11th overall to earn second team honors after leading CMU in each previous race. He ran 25:08.
Also scoring for CMU were Adam Koepfer in 37th (26:28), Bill Peterson in 39th (26:29), and Sean Anthony in 41st (26:35).
"It was a competitive race and that was good to see for the conference," Fuller said. "It just wasn't there for us. I didn't have the team ready to go."
