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Men's harriers eye perfect performance at SSAC Championships
GULFPORT, Miss. – The level of his voice
goes up a few decibels when he put his expectations into words.
After all, head coach Jay Stephenson knows just what the Shorter University men’s cross country team is capable of doing, having already proven they are one of the nation’s top programs.
What has the coach excited is what the No. 17-ranked Hawks intend to do when they go after a fourth-straight Southern States Athletic Conference title when the conference championship begins Saturday morning at the Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.
They just don’t want to repeat and earn the automatic berth for a return trip to the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 20 in Vancouver, Wash.; they want to have a perfect SSAC performance.
“When we won it two years ago we did it by taking the first five places,” Stephenson said about the rare 15-point score Shorter posted in 2008. “That’s what the guys want to do again.”
That kind of a prediction is not hopeful speculation. Judging from what the team has done so far this season, it well within becoming a reality.
At their last meet two weeks ago, the Southeast Classic at Berry College, the Hawks not only held their own by finishing third behind national powers Bryan (No. 5) and Embry-Riddle (No. 7). The SSAC’s only ranked team finished well ahead of six other conference teams who competed.
Three Shorter runners finished in the top eight at the meet, with freshman sensation Paul Chelimo taking the overall title, and that kind of performance has become the team’s balanced trademark.
“Just about everyone on the team has finished as the top seven runners for us in meets this year,” Stephenson said about the same kind of formula that led to an 18th place finish at last year’s national meet. “That’s a good thing because in any race you can count on the whole team. If someone has a bad day, someone else is there ready to step in.”
Having started the season unranked, the Hawks have seen one of the newest members of the team set the stage for the postseason run – Chelimo.
At the Southeast Classic, the lean long-distance specialist cruised to the overall victory by running the 8-kilometer course in 23:59 and the effort landed Chelimo his second NAIA National Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week honor this season.
“I think he’ll have an opportunity to be in the top five at the national meet,” Stephenson said of the 5-foot-8 runner who only has to carry a 125-pound frame over the long haul. “And any time you have someone finish that high up front, it helps the team and he does help give the guys confidence.
“When you have a runner like Paul, it relaxes everyone.”
Combine that with the fact that the bulk of last year’s team that ran into the national spotlight last year returns, and Shorter does indeed have all the ingredients to have a perfect SSAC run.
Back and focused on bettering what they did in the 2009 conference and national meets include senior Steven Rich and three sophomores – Doug Kalmbach, Nicolas Toscan and Eliud Ng’etich, who finished 32nd overall at the NAIA nationals.
Senior Brenton Widener, junior Peter Limo and sophomore Louis Fields also add experience, while sophomore transfer Oscar Ogwaro has provided an immediate impact.
“They’re a pretty close group,” said Stephenson. “There’s a lot of talent on this team.”
And while the talent abounds and they have a perfect SSAC outing in mind, the Hawks are staying grounded.
“They’re pretty patient,” the coach said about the team’s workman-like approach. “I haven’t seen any signs of anyone getting too excited too soon.”
