2008 Woodie Awards
A home trot through Mount Pleasant
Women at full strength entering conference race
By: D.J. Palomares
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
|
CMU hosts the MAC Championships at 11 a.m. Saturday at Riverwood Resort.
"We are competing on our own course that we have been able to run on several times, which helps us get a better feel for the course," said coach Karen Lutzke. "We already know the course, which will only benefit us."
Individual champion Carime Reinhart returns this season after helping Ohio University win the team championship last year.
"Carime is coming into her senior season and wants to deliver her best performance in this race," said Ohio coach Clay Calkins. "But, of course, anything can happen."
CMU has its own weapon - junior Kelly McClure, who has emerged as a leader with the most first-place finishes on the team.
"I am very confident in our abilities to perform well at the MAC meet," McClure said. "We really have been improving all year, and we just need to continue to be confident going into Saturday."
As the season draws to a close, an important aspect of the team's performance is tightening the pack between the first and the seventh finisher, Lutzke said.
One of the runners closing the gap has been freshman Rachel Wittum, who has shaved seven seconds off her time since Sept. 14's Spartan Invitational.
"I feel like I have really grown when it comes to racing with my teammates," Wittum said. "I really didn't do that much in high school and it's stressed so much here at CMU, and I love it."
Junior Jackie Rivard battled injuries and illnesses at the beginning of the season, but has trained hard this week in order to reach her top performance.
"I think we will do very well … everyone has been working so hard and I think it will all pay off this Saturday," Rivard said.
sports@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story