After close to two weeks together as a team, including a three-day camp near Crystal Mountain, the Seattle University cross country squad begins competition with the first of four meets in the local area, the UW/SU Open Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 4 p.m. at Magnuson Park.
Seattle U head coach Trisha Steidl is pleased with the way the runners have begun the season, as numerous members of this year’s squad posted times in the annual Green Lake time trial good enough for the all-time top ten lists for both the men and the women. She feels that the camp went well and that the team is now adapting to the workout schedule back on campus.
“The time trial was awesome, which showed that we are on a higher level on both sides right from the start,” Steidl said. “Everybody looked good and strong during camp, and the team is solid at this point in time. It is the beginning of the season, which is great, but we need to build on this to be as strong at the end of the season.”
The Seattle U men’s cross country squad will need to overcome the loss of 2012 WAC cross country champion Erik Barkhaus and First Team All-WAC performer Matthew McClement to graduation. Also, Steidl plans to keep Collin Overbay (Spokane, Wash.) out of competition this season to redshirt him, leaving many spots in the top seven (the scoring spots) up for grabs. Seniors Jeff Baklund (Auburn, Wash.), Ryan Dennison (Pacifica, Calif.), Graham Kinzel-Grubbs (Portland, Ore.), and captain Peter VanNuland (Newcastle, Wash.) hope to maintain their positions in the lineup, but Steidl expects a wide-open competition on the men’s squad this season.
“If everybody does what they are capable of doing and continues to build while staying healthy, we have a shot of doing something really good this season. There are guys who should be in the top seven, but most of them are fairly close together. I like that those spots are up for grabs, because it keeps everyone hungry. If they are being smart, doing the little things, taking care of themselves both in and out of practice, and then racing with heart and soul, someone can come on and take one of those top spots,” said Steidl.
Steidl believes that sophomores Gus Arroyo (Portland, Ore.) and Nathan McLaughlin (Puyallup, Wash.) are ready for a breakthrough, as both came into preseason camp in great shape, posting fast times over the past two weeks. Caleb Herrera (Tucson, Ariz.), a junior college transfer, will also provide a strong challenge to the returning runners. Steidl thinks that there are enough experienced runners to keep the four freshmen from reaching the top seven this season, but she would not be surprised if at least one or two of them make a charge during the year.
The Redhawk women have plenty of experience throughout the roster, with 14 runners returning from the 2012 campaign. Once again, they will be led by senior Hannah Mittelstaedt (Maple Valley, Wash.), a Second Team All-WAC honoree in cross country last year and the 2013 WAC outdoor track and field champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Over the past two seasons, Mittelstaedt has been the top Seattle U finisher in every meet she has competed in, and her improvement has continued throughout the summer.
Lauren Hammerle (Seattle, Wash.), a captain for the second straight season, is fully recovered from a foot injury that kept her out of the 2012 cross country campaign, and fellow fifth-year senior Jennifer Stolle (Seattle, Wash.) also returns to help the Redhawks this year. The top seven fluctuated throughout the 2012 season on the women’s side, and Steidl expects everyone to fight for their position in the lineup this year.
“Besides the experience the seniors provide, the juniors made great improvements last year and are more focused and driven this season,” Steidl said. “All of the sophomores are much stronger. Last year, it took them time to figure out certain little issues such as staying healthy throughout the season, but they look really good so far this year. We have two freshmen that can mix it up, but I think for now their best role will be to keep the pressure on the experienced runners.”
Seattle U is one of just three members of the Western Athletic Conference returning from the 2012 season, along with defending women’s cross country conference champion Idaho and New Mexico State. However, a new challenge awaits the Redhawks within the league, as former Great West rival Utah Valley enters the WAC this season, along with Bakersfield (women only), Chicago State, Grand Canyon, Kansas City, and Texas-Pan American.
“We are very familiar with Utah Valley, and I am excited to be competing against them once again. They were the top dogs in the Great West, and I think they will be one of the top teams in the WAC, so we definitely want to mix it up with them,” said Steidl.
Everyone who is healthy will compete at the UW/SU Open Aug. 30 at Magnuson Park and at the UW Sundodger Invitational Sept. 14 at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Based on those results, the top nine runners will head to Springfield, Ore., for the Bill Dellinger Invitational Oct. 5, hosted by the University of Oregon.
The final selection for the postseason begins with everyone competing in the Emerald City Open at Lower Woodland Park Oct. 19, with the top seven runners automatically advancing to the WAC Championships. Everyone else makes the trip to Corvallis, Ore., for the Beaver Classic Oct. 26, with two spots up for grabs to compete at the league championships Nov. 2 at Jefferson Park Golf Course. The top seven runners from the conference meet will head to Sacramento, Calif., for the NCAA West Regional Friday, Nov. 15, hosted by Sacramento State University.
Steidl believes that a top three finish at the WAC Championships for both the men and the women should be reachable, especially with the conference meet in Seattle U’s backyard. Jefferson Park Golf Course hosted the NCAA West Regional meet last year, and 11 members of the 2013 Redhawk active roster competed in that event, giving Seattle U an edge heading into this year’s WAC Championships.
“(Jefferson Park) is a fun course to let the runners go free and run fast without having to worry about too many obstacles, which is good at that point in the season. We are familiar with the course, so if another team is going to take us down, it better be because they were just better than us, because we have the experience. I can’t wait to welcome everyone to Seattle and this great venue for the championships,” said Steidl.