University of Minnesota Athletics
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM READY TO RUN
8/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
theirThe 2000 Golden Gopher cross country team is in prime position to improve on last season's third place Big Ten and 15th place NCAA finish. Head Coach Steve Plasencia and his squad are aiming for their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance, a feat not yet accomplished at the University of Minnesota. The Gophers would also like to improve on their conference finish. A U of M win would be the first since 1969.
Once again, Minnesota faces tough competition in the conference race.
"Wisconsin is a traditional power," Plasencia said. "They are the defending Big Ten champions and have a very strong program. They and Michigan have always been the teams to beat."
Minnesota will also see some of the nation's top programs outside of the Big Ten at meets throughout the season, most notably at the Roy Griak Invitational on September 23 at Les Bolstad Golf Course. At least five teams from the Big Ten will be competing, as well as Oregon, Auburn, Providence and UCLA.
"You see everybody at the big meets," Plasencia said. "Last season we had seven of the top 10 at the Griak and look forward to that level of competition. This year should be very similar."
The Gophers return 10 from last year's squad and add six newcomers. Minnesota is a young team, with 13 of the 18 being freshmen or sophomores.
"I think the sophomore class particularly holds the key for our success this year," Plasencia said. "If we keep them healthy and progressing throughout the season we will be successful."
Despite their youth, there is no lack of experience. Seven of the returnees were top place finishers in at least one meet last season, three were all-district selections and two were All-Big Ten honorees.
Plasencia will look to lone senior, Jason Owen, to be a leader this season. Owen will have to shave minutes off his times from last year to stay on pace with the younger runners, but his experience and maturity make him one of the most valuable parts of the team.
Joe Corr has been one of the Gophers' most consistent harriers in his two years at Minnesota. He was one of the Gophers top three finishers in five of seven meets in 1999.
Fellow junior Andrew McKessock has also been one Coach Plasencia can count on. McKessock was the highest Minnesota finisher at the NCAA Championships with a 64th place finish and a time of 31:41.
Several sophomores will also be looked upon to continue and improve upon stellar performances from their rookie seasons. Will McComb finished 14th at the Big Ten Championship, earning him Freshman of the Year honors. Neil Hanson, 1998 Minnesota State High School Cross Country Champion, had a solid freshman year and Plasencia looks for him to contribute even more this fall.
Plasencia will also look to returnees from last year with little meet experience to step up and help the team. Andy Kummer, Luke Mullranin, Erik Quam, Scott Utne and redshirt freshman Brent Loberg all have the potential to be top racers for the Gophers.
The rookies coming in for the 2000 season will add even more talent to the Minnesota squad. Michael Bialick, Josh DoBell, Ryan Ford, Toby Henkels, Jon Ortloff and Martin Robeck will look to forward their high school success to the collegiate level this fall.
"Our freshman class contains some of the very best talent from within the state of Minnesota," says Plasencia.
Bialick, from Wayzata, was the Classic Lake Conference 3200m Champion in 1999 and 2000, and also won the 6AA Sectional 3200m run in 2000 for Hopkins High School. DoBell, a Mankato native, was the state runner-up in the 3200m run in 2000. While at Mankato East High School, DoBell also set the Big 9 Conference mile record. Ford, from St. Cloud, was the 2000 state champion in the 800m. He broke six records at Apollo High school. Henkels has a year of experience with the Gopher Track and Field team under his belt, but this will be his first season with Cross Country. During his time at Worthington High School, Henkels was a three-time sectional champion and the 800m state champion. He was also on the 2000 Big Ten Indoor Track champion distance medley realy team. Ortloff, from North Mankato, was the 2000 800m state runner-up. Robeck, a native of St. Michael, helped the St. Michael-Albertville High School track team to the Class A State Championship with his own winning mile time.
After looking at some of their high school accomplish- ments, it is easy to see why Plasencia is excited about his most recent recruiting class.
"We are extremely excited about this team," Plasencia says. "Providing we stay healthy, we should be able to compete with anyone in the Big Ten. Again, we will emphasize being ready for the big meets in late October and November."
With all the potential this group has, it is easy to see why the University of Minnesota is looking forward to this cross country season. With a good combination of youth and experience, the Gophers are an up-and-coming team. They will be one of the nation's top teams both this year and in the future.
Once again, Minnesota faces tough competition in the conference race.
"Wisconsin is a traditional power," Plasencia said. "They are the defending Big Ten champions and have a very strong program. They and Michigan have always been the teams to beat."
Minnesota will also see some of the nation's top programs outside of the Big Ten at meets throughout the season, most notably at the Roy Griak Invitational on September 23 at Les Bolstad Golf Course. At least five teams from the Big Ten will be competing, as well as Oregon, Auburn, Providence and UCLA.
"You see everybody at the big meets," Plasencia said. "Last season we had seven of the top 10 at the Griak and look forward to that level of competition. This year should be very similar."
The Gophers return 10 from last year's squad and add six newcomers. Minnesota is a young team, with 13 of the 18 being freshmen or sophomores.
"I think the sophomore class particularly holds the key for our success this year," Plasencia said. "If we keep them healthy and progressing throughout the season we will be successful."
Despite their youth, there is no lack of experience. Seven of the returnees were top place finishers in at least one meet last season, three were all-district selections and two were All-Big Ten honorees.
Plasencia will look to lone senior, Jason Owen, to be a leader this season. Owen will have to shave minutes off his times from last year to stay on pace with the younger runners, but his experience and maturity make him one of the most valuable parts of the team.
Joe Corr has been one of the Gophers' most consistent harriers in his two years at Minnesota. He was one of the Gophers top three finishers in five of seven meets in 1999.
Fellow junior Andrew McKessock has also been one Coach Plasencia can count on. McKessock was the highest Minnesota finisher at the NCAA Championships with a 64th place finish and a time of 31:41.
Several sophomores will also be looked upon to continue and improve upon stellar performances from their rookie seasons. Will McComb finished 14th at the Big Ten Championship, earning him Freshman of the Year honors. Neil Hanson, 1998 Minnesota State High School Cross Country Champion, had a solid freshman year and Plasencia looks for him to contribute even more this fall.
Plasencia will also look to returnees from last year with little meet experience to step up and help the team. Andy Kummer, Luke Mullranin, Erik Quam, Scott Utne and redshirt freshman Brent Loberg all have the potential to be top racers for the Gophers.
The rookies coming in for the 2000 season will add even more talent to the Minnesota squad. Michael Bialick, Josh DoBell, Ryan Ford, Toby Henkels, Jon Ortloff and Martin Robeck will look to forward their high school success to the collegiate level this fall.
"Our freshman class contains some of the very best talent from within the state of Minnesota," says Plasencia.
Bialick, from Wayzata, was the Classic Lake Conference 3200m Champion in 1999 and 2000, and also won the 6AA Sectional 3200m run in 2000 for Hopkins High School. DoBell, a Mankato native, was the state runner-up in the 3200m run in 2000. While at Mankato East High School, DoBell also set the Big 9 Conference mile record. Ford, from St. Cloud, was the 2000 state champion in the 800m. He broke six records at Apollo High school. Henkels has a year of experience with the Gopher Track and Field team under his belt, but this will be his first season with Cross Country. During his time at Worthington High School, Henkels was a three-time sectional champion and the 800m state champion. He was also on the 2000 Big Ten Indoor Track champion distance medley realy team. Ortloff, from North Mankato, was the 2000 800m state runner-up. Robeck, a native of St. Michael, helped the St. Michael-Albertville High School track team to the Class A State Championship with his own winning mile time.
After looking at some of their high school accomplish- ments, it is easy to see why Plasencia is excited about his most recent recruiting class.
"We are extremely excited about this team," Plasencia says. "Providing we stay healthy, we should be able to compete with anyone in the Big Ten. Again, we will emphasize being ready for the big meets in late October and November."
With all the potential this group has, it is easy to see why the University of Minnesota is looking forward to this cross country season. With a good combination of youth and experience, the Gophers are an up-and-coming team. They will be one of the nation's top teams both this year and in the future.
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