NKU head coach Steve Kruse

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The task will not be an easy one for the Northern Kentucky University men's cross country team, but head coach Steve Kruse is focused on attaining a lofty goal for his Norse harriers in 2006.

"The team wants to finally move into the top four or better of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but this will not be an easy task as the GLVC continues to improve," said Kruse, who is entering his 13th season as NKU's head coach.

"We face a more challenging schedule this season, seeking out Division II competition the last half of the year. We will once again depend on our strong pack in hopes that they will be able to finish in the top 10 to 20 percent of any race in which we compete.”

NKU placed sixth at last season's GLVC Championships, but the Norse return six key runners and add a talented freshman. Kruse said he is pleased with the combination of experience and talent.

"All of our returning runners have varsity experience and a good understanding of what must be done if we are to be successful. Keeping injuries to a minimum is also essential," Kruse said. "(Incoming freshman) Reggie Bieger should be a nice fit to the varsity squad. The biggest obstacle is training smart and saving something for the end of the season. Some of our practices become so competitive that we deplete ourselves for the meets.

"We plan to improve upon our sixth-place GLVC finish and look to crack the top 10 in the regional for the first time since 1985."

NKU will feature junior Keith Knapp, a graduate of Lloyd High School. Knapp enjoyed a fine sophomore campaign and became the first Norse harrier to ever earn GLVC Runner of the Week honors last fall. Knapp placed 25th at last year's GLVC Championships.

Keith Knapp (front) will lead NKU

Also returning is sophomore Zach Koehler, a graduate of Ryle High School who put together a solid first year with NKU. Kruse is expecting much from both Knapp and Koehler.

"Keith Knapp has been one of our best runners over the last two years, and Zach Koehler should challenge for our top spot immediately," Kruse said. "Matthew Shoulta will also be one of our go-to guys. Adam Stoppelwerth and Brad Bullock figure to be solid varsity runners. Reggie Bieger, Allen Pettigrew and Breylen Derrick should round out the varsity team.

"Pettigrew, being the lone senior and team captain, will no doubt have his best season yet. All of these runners come from vastly different backgrounds, but they form a unique group that is fun, yet very capable."

NKU will once again take on a challenging schedule, beginning at the University of Dayton's Flyer 5K on Sept. 2.

"Our opener (The Dayton Flyer 5K) is traditionally a Division I meet, and all of the teams offer very strong cross country programs. If we do as well as we did last year at that meet, it will be an omen for many good things to come," Kruse said.

"The pre-national meet in Florida promises to bring in some top Division II teams from all over the country, followed by the Border-wars meet at Edwardsville, which is shaping up to be a pre-GLVC meet."

WOMEN

Untimely injuries proved costly for the NKU women's cross country team in 2005. A season which started with high expectations ended with a 13th-place finish at the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional meet. NKU also placed fifth at the GLVC Championships.

NKU must now replace standout runner Tracy Carskadon, and the Norse will have no seniors on the team.

"We are young, but there is more talent in this group than we have ever had on one women’s team," Kruse said. "With no seniors, it will be a challenge steering this group through the season, but talent alone should take us further than last year's squad.

"Last year was filled with injuries, and it cost us dearly the entire fall. I am cautiously optimistic, because anything can happen with a young group. We will certainly miss Tracy Carskadon, but we have better depth this year. Improvement should be a given for this season."

NKU’s Julianne Hoekzema

NKU will rely on Julianne Hoekzema. The junior from Fairfield, Ohio, earned All-GLVC honors last season by placing fourth at the conference meet. A graduate of Hamilton Badin High School, Hoekzema completed the course in 21:22, and the fourth-place finish at the GLVC Championships was the best in school history.

"She was our top runner at every meet last year, and Julianne is looking to take this young team to heights never attempted," Kruse said, noting Hoekzema is also coming back from an injury she suffered during track last spring.

"Samantha Geiger, Lindsey Bendure and Terri Arlinghaus will also play a big part in team leadership this fall. With potentially 10 new runners in NKU jerseys this fall, they will have to coordinate their leadership capabilities for this team to gel."

Rose Jepkirui was NKU’s first female track & field All-GLVC runner this past spring on the Norse club team and is looking to improve dramatically this fall as a cross country performer. Kruse said incoming freshmen Alisha Hansman (Highlands HS) and Jenna Siemer (St. Henry HS) bring the experience of winning state championships to the program.

Colerain High School graduate Nina Vaughn should provide a boost to the team as well. Kira Cooper (Lloyd HS) and Janice Laker (Batesville HS) will also be contributing factors, according to Kruse.

"Our women’s program has never placed in the top 10 of the regional meet," Kruse said, "but I like the odds of that happening this year."