Sept. 24, 2003
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COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State men's cross country team will travel to Raleigh, N. C. this Friday, to compete in the 2003 Great American Cross Country Festival.
The Buckeyes will compete in the 8-kilometer race, which begins at 4:40 p.m.
Competing along with the Buckeyes will be Butler, Central Michigan, Delaware, Duke , East Tennessee State, Florida State, High Point, Liberty, Norfolk State, North Carolina State , Northern Arizona, Texas A&M., Illinois, Miami, Michigan, New Virginia, West Point, Navy, Villanova and William and Mary
SCOUTING THE MEET
Friday afternoon's race in Raleigh, N.C. will feature some of the top teams in the country, and should provide some tough competition for the Buckeyes, who will be shooting for their second invitational crown of the 2003 season.
The Great American Cross Country Festival will feature three Big Ten teams, including Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois. The festival also features seven teams in the latest Mondo NCAA cross country poll.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio State men's and women's cross country both posted strong performances, Oct. 19 at the 2003 Spartan Invitational. In the men's 8-kilometer race, the Buckeyes placed seven individuals in the Top 20, while in the 6-kilometer race, the women placed three individuals in the Top 20. The non-scoring event was held in East Lansing, Mich, site of the 2003 Big Ten Championships.
Brian Olinger, led the way for the men as he clocked a time of 24:45.7. The men also received a strong performance from Dan Glaz who finished ninth in time of 24:51.7.
On the women's side, Lyndsi Gay finished eighth in a time of 21:50.5, and finished first on the team for the second-consecutive week.
COACH GARY ON THE SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
"I was very pleased with the team's performance last Friday . Brian Olinger really did a great job this summer making a huge jump in training. He looked very strong for the whole race. I also thought Glenn Collins ran fantastic for his first 8-kilometer race ever; for a true freshman to run 25:25 this early in the season, shows he has the potential to step right in and contribute."
SHOELESS ALEX
Freshman Alex Bailey, competed in his second race of collegiate career on Oct. 19., and posted an impressive time of 26:08.5 at the Spartan Invitational. However what was even more impressive, was that Bailey finished the race wearing just one shoe after losing it in the first 800-meters of the men's race.
RACING TO THE TOP
In their second meet of the season the men posted yet another dominating performance as they placed seven individuals in the Top 20.
BUCKEYES MOVE UP IN THE POLLS
The Ohio State men's cross country team is jumped six spots in the latest Mondo NCAA cross country poll, and are tied for No. 20.
The men began the season 26th in the Mondo preseason poll, conducted by the United States Cross Country Coaches Association. The Buckeyes join fellow Big Ten foes Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State and Minnesota, who also are nationally ranked in the initial poll.
Last season the Buckeyes were ranked as high as 17th in the Mondo Poll enroute to their second NCAA championships appearance in the last three years.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
Rob Myers... the senior co-captain finished in the Top 10 for the second time this season at the Spartan Invitational ... Myers finished the event in a time of 25:01.5 ... opened the season with a first place finish in the Ohio State Invitational, where he finished the 6-kilometer event in a time of 20:56.1.
Aaron Fisher... posted his second Top 15 this past weekend at the Spartan Invitational ... opened the on a high note at the Ohio State Invitational where he finished sixth overall to help the Buckeyes to a first-place finish.
Brian Olinger... this past weekend at the Spartan Invitational, Olinger placed second to led the Buckeyes ... his second-place finish at the Spartan Invitational was his second Top 5 finish of the season.
Dan Glaz... after an impressive 2002 campaign, Glaz has picked up right were he left off by finishing in the Top 5 in the first two meets of the season ... during the Spartan Invitational, Glaz finished fourth in a time of 24:51.7 ... Glaz opened the 2003 season with a third-place finish at the Ohio State Invitational.
Sjaan Gerth... the senior co-captain placed in the Top 15 in the first two meets of the season ... last week at the Spartan Invitational Gerth posted a time of 25:15.2 ... in the men's 8-kilometer race.
Glenn Collins... has posted two Top 20 performance in his first two meets as a Buckeye ... has shown great potential through the early meets of the season ... was the only freshman to run under 26 minutes the Spartan Invitational.
Matt Penza... started the 2003 season on a high note by placing in the Top 15 in the first two meets of the season ... last week at the Spartan Invitational, Penza clocked a time of 25:17.6 ... Penza opened the 2003 season with a fifth place finish at the Ohio State Invitational.
BUCKEYE FROSH COMES UP BIG
In their first meet of the season, the Ohio State men's cross country teams received strong performances from its upperclassmen and freshmen.
In the men's the race freshman Glenn Collins turned in a strong performance for the Buckeyes as he placed 10th in a time of 21:39.0, to lead the Buckeyes to a first-place finish.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE
The Ohio State men's cross country team will aim for another trip to NCAA championships. Under the direction of men's cross country coach Robert Gary the men's team have qualified for the NCAA championships two out of the last four years.
2002 CROSS COUNTRY REVIEW
The Ohio State men's and women's cross-country teams both completed solid seasons in 2002. The men made tremendous strides toward establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the country, while the women were led by first-year women's head coach Chad Myers who guided the team to a 45-19 overall record. The men's team finished first at the All-Ohio Invitational and placed second at the Big Ten championships (the team's highest finish since 1977). Following the Big Ten championships Derrick Butler, Dan Glaz and Aaron Fisher received Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The men began the season by qualifying for the NCAA championships for the second time in three years. The Buckeyes also earned several postseason honors, among the individuals was Derrick Butler who was named 2002 Division I Ohio Runner of the Year. Men's cross country coach Robert Gary also was awarded Division I Ohio Cross Country Coach of the Year. The women were led by freshman Chelsea Poling who placed first for the Buckeyes three times the season, while leading the Buckeyes to two first place finishes at the Cincinnati invitational and Notre Dame invitational.
MEET COACH GARY
Entering his seventh season as Ohio State men's cross country coach, Gary has taken the Buckeyes to new heights. During his tenure, Gary has guided the Buckeyes to the NCAA championships twice in the last three years.
Last season served as Gary's finest season as men's head coach of the cross country team, as he directed Ohio State to a second-place finish at the Big Ten championships, which marked its highest since 1977.
Following the 2002 cross country season, Gary received the Ohio Cross Country Coach of the Year Award for the third time while at Ohio State.
What sets Gary apart from other coaches is his innate ability to pass along his competitive drive and strong work ethic. While at Ohio State, Gary has coached four Ohio cross country runners of the year, numerous All-Big Ten selections and two All-Americans. Gary also thrives at coaching his athletes on the track.
As men's distance coach for the track and field team, Gary has coached eight All-Americans, 11 Big Ten champions, one Big Ten Freshman of the Year, two United States junior team members and one United States junior champion in the 10,000-meter run. He has also coached a Big Ten champion in every distance event.
Cross country has not been the only thing on Coach Gary's mind during his tenure at Ohio State. Academics have played a major role in Gary's strategy, as he has coached two academic All-America teams (GPA over 3.0) and three academic All-America teams with distinction, while having two of his athletes nominated for the Big Ten medal of honor.
MEET COACH MYERS
The 2003 cross country season marks the second year at Ohio State for Chad Myers as coach of the women's cross country team. In his first year, Myers spent the 2002 season assisting head cross country coach Robert Gary in taking the men's and women's cross country programs to new heights.
The addition of Myers last fall marked the beginning of Myers' rebuilding phase for the women's team, the squad Myers spent the most of his time with during the fall season. Under Myers' guidance, the Ohio State women's cross country team finished first at the Cincinnati and Notre Dame invitationals, while compiling a record of 45-19.
UP NEXT
The Ohio State men's country team will travel to the Delaware, Ohio, Oct. 10, to compete in the All-Ohio Invitational.
