St. Scholastica predicted to earn 10th straight UMAC women's cross country title in 2010
UMAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. 42 Points - College of St. Scholastica (6 First Place Votes)
2. 35 Points - University of Minnesota, Morris (1)
3. 31 Points - Martin Luther College
4. 25 Points - North Central University
5. 24 Points - Northwestern College
6. 15 Points - Northland College
7. 13 Points - Bethany Lutheran College
8. 11 Points - Crown College
ST. PAUL -- The College of St. Scholastica, who has won nine consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championships in women’s cross country, was the unanimous choice to win the conference title yet again in 2010 according to a poll of the league’s coaches. The Saints, who have claimed every UMAC trophy since 2001, earned 24 points and six first place votes in the poll.
Under head coach Steve Pfingsten, St. Scholastica returns All-UMAC runners Jessie Lovering, Kristen Gronbeck, Melissa Kempenich and Jenna Stauffer. Lovering took third in last year’s championship event while Gronbeck joined her in the race’s Top 10. The Saints will have to replace two-time NCAA qualifier and Elite 88 award-winner Katelyn Meger, who is now an assistant coach for the team.
The University of Minnesota, Morris was the only other team to receive a first place vote in the poll, receiving 35 points for second place. Coming off a second place finish at the 2009 UMAC Championship, and with the reigning UMAC individual champion primed for her sophomore season, the Cougars are set for a strong 2010 campaign. Five of the team’s top seven runners return this season, led by Linda Keller who won last year’s finale in her freshman season after posting a time of 23:04 in the 6K championship. Keller went on to finish in the top 100 at the 2009 NCAA championship meet. Also returning for the Cougars in 2010 are Debbie Schneiderman, Gemma Miltich, Cristina Montanez and Kate Campbell.
Third place Martin Luther College finished strong in 2009 after taking third at the UMAC Championship and hopes to build off that performance in 2010. The Knights return several key performers from last year’s team, including sophomores Robin Nommensen and Amanda Walther, who both finished in the top 20 at the conference meet last season. Also returning are junior Heather Williams and senior Laura Spaude.
North Central University, who finished fourth in the poll, returns both of its all-conference runners from 2009 in junior Catherine Mead and sophomore Michelle Hubbell. Mead and Hubbell finished fourth and fifth at the 2009 UMAC Championship and each recorded outstanding 2010 seasons in track and field. Mead brings a 24:30 6K personal best into the season. Hubbell has a 6K personal record of 24:44. Other key returners include Carica Onyshuk and Meghan Smith.
Northwestern College took fifth place in the poll, earning 24 points. Marit Stutrud and Dani Sustad will headline a Northwestern women’s team that looks to return towards the top of the UMAC lineup. They’ll have to do it without three-time UMAC All-Conference runner Rachel Grammer. Stutrud’s best times include 20:31 in the 5K and 25:08 in the 6K with Sustad right behind her.
Fifth-year head coach Dave Beeksma leads the LumberJills from Northland College, who finished sixth in the poll with 15 points. The Jills were able to show improvement on their times throughout the season last year and will look to improve upon the team’s fifth place finish at the 2009 UMAC championship meet. Northland’s top returner in 2010 will be all-conference runner Hannah Fanney, who finished seventh overall in last season’s finale. Fanney will be joined by veterans Katherine Boyk and Samantha Lucheck. New additions to the Jills in Alyssa Stutte and Samantha Fendt should help the Jills build towards a solid future.
Bethany Lutheran College, a recipient of 13 points in the poll, returns two starters who made vast improvements in the 2009 season. Melissa Bergemann and Kaci Dolen are expected to keep shaving minutes off their times. The Vikings will lose their top finisher at the UMAC Championship, Brittany Rogers, but hope to fill the void with four new faces. Bethany Lutheran’s newcomers will have an immediate impact on the team. Breanne Perlwitz is expected to lead the way for the Vikings freshman as a speedy addition to the team.
Crown College rounded out the poll with 11 points and eighth place. The Storm will look to improve upon its seventh place finish at last year’s conference championship by returning the team’s top runner and a strong cast of veterans. Returning for her sophomore season is Summer Pfaff, who has had a great summer of running and completed her first marathon. Pfaff will be joined by senior Megan Kunde and junior Erika Stampfl.
After each team competes at numerous meets throughout the fall season, all eight schools will meet in Ashland, Wis. on Saturday, Oct. 30 for the UMAC Championships.