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MAC championships lay ahead for XC teams

Senior Pat Sovacool paces the 'Hawks, who hope to capture a conference title.
Senior Pat Sovacool paces the 'Hawks, who hope to capture a conference title.

Bob Carroll

Senior Pat Sovacool paces the 'Hawks, who hope to capture a conference title.

The RedHawks are off and running to two impressive cross-country seasons.

After a third place finish at the Oklahoma State 6k Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla., the Miami University women's cross country team rose to a fifth place ranking in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Regional Rankings and are currently ranked sixth.

In addition, Miami's men are ranked seventh in the region after recently competing against some of the nation's elite programs.

"It feels awesome to have a team nationally ranked," junior Laura Neufarth said. "I think we deserve it because we've worked so hard this year and we still have many great opportunities to show how strong we are."

Neufarth, a 2007 NCAA National Championship qualifier and All-Ohio Division 1 Female Runner of the Year, was quick to point out the reason for the team's success.

"As a unit we are there for each other," Neufarth said. "Knowing that you are not out there alone is extremely beneficial."

While team chemistry seems to be what drove the success of the Miami women's team, the talent of this 2008 squad can't be overlooked. At the Cowboy Jamboree, consistent leader Neufarth lead the pack with a fourth place finish clocked at 21:45. Following close behind were Rachel Patterson and Kelsey McHugh, who finished ninth and 10th respectively.

"It is a great group of girls, and I think the only difference this year is that we've gained some confidence," Neufarth said. "We know what we need to do in practice and in a race and we do it."

The talent pool at Miami seems to run a little deeper than usual and the men's team has shown it has potential to make the 2008 season a memorable one for the school.

"In 1998, we had a team that won that MAC (championship) and this team is very similar," head coach Warren Mandrell said.

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Mandrell, in his 15th season as the Miami head coach, was optimistic about the season.

"We've got some nice depth with nine guys (who can run) under 26 minutes (in the 8k distance)," Mandrell said. "When you have that, you have a pretty solid team".

The men's team also shows definite promise for the rest of the season after being undefeated at a meet at the University of Notre Dame, particularly with seven other programs present ranked in the nation's top 30.

"If everyone stays healthy it'll be Eastern Michigan and Miami going for it (in the MAC)," Mandrell said.

Contributing to the early season excitement has been the continued success of senior Pat Sovacool.

Sovacool, a three-time MAC Runner of the Week this season, seemed to point out exactly what has everyone so excited.

"This season is different because everyone has some experience, and that's big (for us)," Sovacool said.

"Everyone knows that they have to do.

They want to compete."

Both the men's and women's team now set their eyes on the MAC championships Nov. 1. Using their season to compete against the nation's elite, the RedHawks are confident about their chances of hoisting a conference crown.

"It really is a culture of champions," Sovacool said. "We took that and just kind of ran with it. We're living by that because we want to bring the MAC title home."


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