2010 Walsh University Cross Country Outlook
Veteran Head Coach Al Campbell returns for his 12th year at Walsh with the most experienced group of Cavaliers in years. A total of 14 athletes return from the 2009 squad which finished 46-39. Several of them are looking to lead the group and their eyes are focused on qualifying for the NAIA National Championships in Portland, Oregon. The Cavaliers finished in fifth place last year in the conference meet. They are looking to improve upon that finish and run more as a pack to lower their score. This year should prove interesting as the more experienced runners move to a higher level of competition.
Katie Laughlin (Jr., Malvern, OH/Canton South), Kim Swartz (Jr., Tiffin, OH/Tiffin Calvert), Megan Case (Sr., Louisville, OH/HS), Lissa Yoder (So., Cortland, OH/Maplewood), and Nicole Culler (Jr., Beloit, OH/West Branch) all could be the one who runs in the No. 1 spot on the team. All are veterans who have been through the rough American Mideast Conference competition.
Laughlin earned the Top Performance Award in 2009 by just missing a qualifying spot for the NAIA national meet. Culler was the most improved in 2009 and has set a sound base of running over the summer. Swartz was the most consistent last season and tested the waters in running the 3,000 meter steeplechase last spring and finishing in the top four in the AMC championships. Yoder won the Outstanding Freshman Award and turned in the team’s fastest 5,000 meters last spring on the track oval.
In addition to Case, two other seniors return from last year in Ashley Demsey (Parma, OH/Padua Franciscan) and Melissa Moziejko (Columbus, OH/Bishop Hartley) to provide important leadership. Demsey joined Case as “top seven” runners in previous years.
This year’s roster will include freshmen Lauren Cameron (New Philadelphia, OH/Tusky Central Catholic), Kaley Charek (Clinton, OH/Green), and Clara Hawkins (Jefferson, OH/Jefferson Area) as they look to lead a group of seven newcomers wanting to make an impact.
A rugged schedule lays ahead of the Cavs and includes the Otterbein Invitational, which is mostly composed of NCAA Division II and III schools. The All-Ohio championships will move to Cedarville University this year after being hosted many years by Ohio Wesleyan University on the Delaware Country Club course. The Cavs will look to get off to a fast start at the beginning of the year as they open at home in the Ric Sayre Invitational.
