2009 Walsh University Cross Country Outlook
Veteran Head Coach Al Campbell returns for his 11th year at Walsh, with six of his top eight runners from last year back in the fold. With that said, the biggest challenge facing Campbell and the Cavs will be replacing top runner and NAIA National Qualifier Andrea DiNinno. DiNinno, who will remain with the program as a graduate assistant, finished 65th (18:44.6) in a field of 327 at the 27th championship meet last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Walsh's only senior, Kristen LeFever (Alliance, OH/Marlington), returns for her final year as team Captain. LeFever ran in four meets last season before an emergency appendectomy midway through the season put her on the shelf. LeFever expects to return to the form that enabled her to reach the national meet in 2007. She sported a second place finish (19:39.36) at Rio Grande last year.
Other returning veterans include Megan Case (Jr., Louisville, OH/HS/19:13), Katie Laughlin (Sr., Malvern, OH/Canton South/19:29), Kim Swartz (So., Tiffin, OH/Tiffin Calvert/20:07), Ashley Demsey (Jr., Parma, OH/Padua Franciscan/21:11), and Chantelle Richards (Jr., Akron, OH/East/20:43). This contingent gives Campbell and the Cavs plenty of leadership and experience.
Campbell's freshmen class includes several runners with state or regional experience. Emily DePalmo (Minerva, OH/HS) and Lissa Yoder (Cortland, OH/Maplewood) finished in the top twenty in their regional meets. Amber Cross (Mineral Ridge, OH/HS) shattered her high school individual records and was a steady runner throughout the year. Kayla Loughry (Madison, OH/HS), Tara Smith (Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway), Kelly Vigars (Uniontown, OH/Lake) and Brittany Wile (Hudson, OH/HS) will provide depth as they adapt to the intercollegiate pace.
Cuyahoga Community College transfer Charmaine Jefferson (Jr., Euclid, OH/HS) will add experience and depth to the roster. Charmaine, also a track standout, helped lead her tri-C team to the National JUCO Championships last spring in the 4x800 relay.
Campbell's Cavs will have many challenges this fall. Running without senior leader Andrea DiNinno, they will have to set their own paths to success. Last season the Cavs captured two team championship trophies (Walsh Invitational, Rio Grande Invitational), but this season only the Walsh Invitational is on the docket. The 2009 team goals include qualifying for the plane ride to Portland, Oregon for the NAIA National Meet. This is the first time the big meet has been west of the Mississippi River. It will be a stiff challenge. This year’s schedule also
includes the All-Ohio Championships and the Gettysburg Invitational. Both meets have long been a tradition among the Cavaliers, but were not on last year’s schedule. It will be refreshing to return to these “top flight” competitions. After a tune-up meet (Alumni Run) on September 5th, the Cavs open the season September 12th with the second annual Ric Sayre Invitational at home, named after the men's former super marathon runner.
Campbell expects the Cavs to “test the waters” early in the season, but with their experience, mold into a contending team by American Mideast Conference meet.
