Visions of a national championship have been on the horizon in the past, but they were always beyond reach. Now, however, such lofty aspirations are seemingly within an arm’s length.
In spite of losing 4 of its top 5 runners from last year’s squad that finished fifth at the 2005 NAIA Championship Meet, the Cougars appear to be stronger than ever. Second-year coach Preston Grey has garnered an excellent set of newcomers, and given the depth of last year’s team, Grey believes this could be a showcase year for Azusa Pacific cross country.
“I think it would be fair to say that we’re 1 of maybe 7 teams that have a realistic chance at a national championship,” said Grey. “It won’t be easy, and there’s some great competition ahead of us, but it’s nice to realize that we might be in the mix.”
Primary to Grey’s excitement is the arrival of sophomore Aaron Rono, a sophomore transfer from Lindenwood University (Mo.), who is the reigning NAIA individual runner-up. The 23-year old Kenyan blazed a 23:55 8K in last year’s championship event, helping to lead Lindenwood to a third place finish overall.
“We’ve never had a sub-24 runner, and we’ve never had an individual champion,” said Grey. “In Aaron we get someone who can do both, and he is the biggest reason we can contend for a title. His presence is making everyone on the team better competitors.”
Clipping on Rono’s heels is freshman Caleb Mesa, another newcomer who has been a pleasant surprise in the early days of his collegiate career. Mesa put together a fine prep career at Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and while he was considered to be a diamond in the rough when Grey landed him, Mesa is already exceeding expectations.
“Caleb is the wild card,” said Grey. “If he truly ends up being our No. 2 runner by the end of the season, we’ll be in great shape to make a run for the national title.”
Returnees Caleb Lynch, Peter Sherman and John Pfeil are likely to round out the top 5 scorers, though another 3 men will contend for scoring recognition. “We have any one of 4 guys who could be our No. 5 runner,” said Grey. “Depth is one of our strengths, and it makes for a more competitive environment within the team.”
Lynch is a 2-time All-GSAC honoree and last year clocked a personal-best 25:30 at the NAIA Championship Meet. He is an NAIA All-American in track & field’s 600- and 800-meters.
Sherman is a veteran of 17 meets, including a pair of NAIA championship events, one of which he ran his 8K best of 25:54 last year. One of the stronger runners in the GSAC, Sherman has emerged over the past 2 years as an excellent steeplechaser, which in turn should enhance his contributions in cross country.
After a nondescript cross country campaign of last fall, Pfiel turned around and came on strong during the track season of this past spring, giving reason for added confidence in his contribution this year.
Senior Christian Snyder, junior Sean Henning and transfer Bryan Rodie (Boise State) are all quality contributors who will certainly score throughout the season.
"We'll have to have 4 All-Americans to win a national championship," said Grey. "If we can get 4 guys to consistently run a 25:30 and then have a fifth guy nail it at nationals, then I like our chances."
The Cougars are ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, and typically a squad ranked so high would seemingly be at ease about its conference performance. However, Azusa Pacific travels within the Golden State Athletic Conference, the premier conference in the NAIA, and competition locally will also be stern. In fact, the Cougars are not even favored to win the conference title, but rather NAIA runner-up Concordia is the team to beat.
“Remember I mentioned that we could be 1 of 7 teams vying for a national title,” Grey asked rhetorically, “well one of them is Concordia. They are very strong, and like us, they had a good recruiting year. We’ll see them in 5 of the 6 meets we compete in this year, so we’ll know how we stack up against them.”
Azusa Pacific opens the season Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Cal State Fullerton Season Opener at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. In the weeks following, the Cougars travel to San Diego State (Sept. 16), and Willamette University in Salem, Ore. (Sept. 30), before entering into the postseason for the GSAC Championships (Oct. 21) in Fresno, followed by the NAIA regionals (Nov. 4), also in Fresno, and the NAIA Championships (Nov. 18) which return to Louisville, Ky., for the third consecutive year.
The Azusa Pacific women, which a year ago finished 18th in the NAIA Championship Meet, open the 2006 season ranked No. 20 in the NAIA Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll.
The Cougars return 6 athletes from last year’s team that also finished third in the GSAC. Heading the list of returnees is 2-time All-American Whitney Jacobsmeyer, a senior who coming off a summer stress fracture that will slow her in the early going of the season. Jacobsmeyer owns a career-best 18:11 on a 5K course.
Junior Olivia Richert is back at full strength after a sub-par 2005 season. As a freshman in 2004, Richert clocked a best of 18:49 at the NAIA regionals, showing a quick glimpse of how impressive she can be in key meets.
Sophomore Jaime Canterbury was an All-GSAC performer during her 2005 rookie season in which she recorded a personal best of 18:50 on Fresno’s Woodward Park Course.
“I’m expecting big things from Jamie,” said Grey. “She is doing all the workouts and is looking more and more like an All-American. She has confidence and has adjusted nicely to collegiate competition.”
Any combination of Cougars will round out the scoring 5 as the season unfolds. Returnees Ashley Olson, Jenny Landis and Abi Lillich are likely candidate as is track-sprinter-turned-distance-runner Kjersti Housman, an NAIA All-American in the sprint relays.
“This is a different year for us,” said Grey. “Normally, we’re ranked high, but this year we’re coming into the season as an underdog. We’ll see how well we embrace that role.”
