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By Chad Hensley, NKU Sports Information HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Going into the season, the expectations of making it back to the NCAA Division II nationals weighed heavily on the shoulders of the Northern Kentucky University men’s cross country team. With a fourth-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 11, the weight was lifted and the Norse will make their second consecutive trip to the national finals, which is being held in Joplin, Mo. The Norse were lead by Zach Koehler’s 16th place finish on the course at Edwardsville, Ill. Koehler, a junior from Union, Ky., has been the most successful performer down the stretch for the team, yet head coach Steve Kruse thinks that it has still been a never-ending team effort. “Everyone has pulled their weight this season, including the guys not on the varsity squad because they continue to be at practice to support their teammates even though they know that individually, their season is over. I am very proud of how everyone has pulled together,” he said. Koehler’s strong performance nearly netted him a spot on the All-Great Lakes Region team – the top 15 finishers are awarded a selection to the All-Region team. The Ryle High School graduate missed the honor by just 1.86 seconds. When asked who has impressed him the most out of everyone on the men’s team, Kruse said “Certainly the group has been great this season, but senior Keith Knapp has worked unbelievably hard getting to this point. He has done so much extra work and really defines the idea and sacrifice and dedication. His entire season was dedicated to one goal and that was to get back to the national meet. “Matthew Shoulta has been the other unsung hero that has been very, very consistent in his supporting role as a major force on this team. He has usually been right behind our top runner in each race this season.” Shoulta finished the 10-kilometer race in 34th position while Knapp finished in 47th place for a Norse squad that is ranked 17th in the country by the USTFCCCA. Ryne Smith and Drew Harris, both freshmen,
have an immediate impact on a squad that lost only two runners
from last season. Smith and
Harris finished the course in 20th and 30th places, respectively. Kruse thinks that advantage is huge for his team. “The fact that our athletes have previous, first-hand knowledge of this course and how it runs gives us an added edge,” he said. “Our runners will be much more comfortable not only on the course but around the campus of Missouri Southern State.” It wasn’t that long ago that the Norse only had dreams of making it to the nationals, as Kruse points out: “It’s almost seems surreal to have the success we’ve had over the last two years. I had a conversation with a colleague of mine earlier this week and it is amazing how with just a few key recruits and the right chemistry where a program can go.”
Through all of the success of the men’s squad, one pleasant surprise for Kruse was the performance of women’s runner Julianne Hoekzema, who has battled through injury after injury throughout her time at NKU. “Julianne has not had an easy road to the top. She struggled with the higher mileages we do but every year she stuck with it and worked hard to overcome those problems. So many people think that most top runners are simply gifted athletes that can do what they do effortlessly. This sport involves a lot of year round work and requires unbelievable dedication for one to excel,” Kruse said. Hoekzema, a senior from Fairfield, Ohio, added to her impressive list of honors when she finished in fifth place at the Great Lakes Regional, which was good enough to earn her the first trip to the Nationals by a NKU women’s runner and a spot on the All-Region team which is just the second in Norse women’s cross country history – Tracy Carskadon won the honor in 2004. She is hoping to add to her impressive resume, which includes a 3rd place finish at the GLVC meet, the NKU record in both five-kilometer (17:39) and six-kilometer (21:41), All-Conference three out of four years, and a two-time member of the Academic All-American team – she looks to be named to the Academic All-American squad for a third time following completion of the fall semester. Hoekzema exemplifies the meaning of hard-work and dedication and Kruse hopes the other members of the women’s squad will see that and make themselves better athletes, “Hard work and dedication pay off but it is not an easy path and in some cases can be a lonely and even unpopular path. The same qualities that will help you succeed in athletics are the same qualities that will help you succeed in life. There are no short cuts but the rewards are great. “Juli has been a tremendous influence on her teammates whether she, or her team, realizes it. Her success has made others notice what is happening here with our women’s team in Highland Heights and want to be part of it. Her impact will definitely be noticed for years to come.” When all is said and done for both the men’s and women’s squads, Kruse thinks everyone gets along well and will continue to have an effect on the program for years to come, “We are a very cohesive group and our freshman see and get to know our alumni who stay involved with the program. The bond that all of our runners have with those who have toiled before them, the routes that we have all covered in our workouts spanning 40 years. “They know that they are part of something bigger that, though not always the most competitive, involves a lot of pride and character to be part of.” The women’s 6-kilometer race will begin at 10:30 a.m. CST on Saturday and the men’s 10-kilometer race will follow at 11:30 a.m. CST. |
