Sept. 10, 2003
Men's Cross Country Season Opens 2003 Hoping For A School-First
The Truman men's cross country team will open up its 2003 season this week, a season the team wants to end with a trip to nationals for the fourth-straight year, something that has never been done before at the school.
"Our biggest goal of every year is to be running our best at the conference meet," said head coach Ed Schneider, starting his 29th season as head men's cross country coach. "We would also like to advance to the national competition. We have been to the NCAAs for three straight seasons and we have never done it for four straight. Plus, it would give senior Alan Heincker the rare opportunity to run in nationals all four years he was on the team."
The Bulldogs do lose two key runners off of last year's squad that finished 14th at the NCAA Championship in Matt Helbig and Mike Nelson. However, the team, which is ranked 15th in the nation and third in the region in the preseason poll, returns a solid nucleus of players plus adds several freshmen who can compete right away.
Leading the way among the returners is Heincker (Dittmer, Mo./Grandview), an all-America in 2001 after finishing 11th at nationals. Last year, he was runner-up in the conference meet and 12th at regionals. Other returners who earned all-region honors last year are junior Andy Person (Wildwood, Mo./Ladue) and senior Brad Peter (Arnold's Park, Iowa/Okoboji). Sophomore Aaron Wells (Runnells, Iowa/Southeast Polk) is the fourth returner who was among the seven who competed at nationals last year. Other returners who could step up this year include sophomore Eli Klimek (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) and junior Jon Carl Rosario (St. Louis/St. Mary's). Injuries limited Klimek to just one race last year and Rosario has been running with the top group during fall practice.
Sixteen freshmen are included among the 2003 Bulldog cross country roster. Among those who could help the team right away include Jason Simpson (Liberty, Mo./Liberty), Peter Schaefer (Fenton, Mo./St. Louis U.), Eric Wittrock (Carroll, Iowa/Kuemper Catholic) and Steve Porath (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield).
Early season competitions include this Friday's Iowa State Open, the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational (Sept. 20), the Notre Dame Invitational (Oct. 3) and the Border States Invitational (Oct. 11).
The top meet of the 2003 season will be the MIAA Championship, which Truman will host on Oct. 25 at the Kirksville Country Club. Schneider expects that race to be a battle with defending champion Missouri Southern returning several key players and Central Missouri, among others, expected to have a strong squad. The NCAA regional meet will be held on Nov. 8 in Commerce, Texas, where the Bulldogs will try to make school history by earning a fourth-straight trip to nationals.