MARSHALL INDEPENDENT (© 2002 story reprinted with permission)
10-24-2002
In the running: Tiger cross country teams ready for Section 2AA meet
By Tom Berg
Independent Sports Editor
LITCHFIELD � The Marshall cross country teams have trained and prepared all season for today�s Section 2AA meet.
And the goal is simple: reach the state meet. To do that, the Tiger teams will have to finish in the top two today.
The girls race is at 3:45 p.m., and the boys race is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. The Tiger boys are considered one of the favorites in 2AA, along with Mankato West and Hutchinson. The girls also have a shot at contending for one of the top two spots but are considered a darkhorse.
The Tiger boys are ranked No. 5 in Class AA, and are led by a strong pack. Yahya Iman, ranked No. 8 in Class AA, leads a veteran group of Tiger runners. Akey Jumale, Tom Allen, Jon Tauer, Salah Mohamed, Bart Johnson and Abdi Awali also have been critical in the Tigers� success this year. Today, that group will face one of its biggest tests of the year. �It�s a big challenge for our boys,� Tiger coach Mike Jacobs said. �It�s not going to be easy. We certainly have to run like we�re capable of it. We�re capable of beating all of the teams there; it�s a matter if we all show up and do what we�re supposed to do.�
West is ranked No. 4 in the state, and Hutchinson has had several strong showings this year. West has beat the Tigers twice in two meetings this year. �West is rated high and has beat us twice. They have the tradition of winning, and they show up ready to run,� Jacobs said. �Hutch is a team that is very dangerous. They have a solid pack, and they�re running with almost all seniors. It�s going to be a dogfight.�
A goal for the Tiger boys today, which could clinch them a trip to state, is to have five runners break the 17-minute barrier, the coach said. �What would do it for us as far as getting to state is to try to get five guys under 17:00,� Jacobs said. �We need everybody prepared to run. We�re capable of winning it all if we stay sharp and keep attacking.
�We have seven guys that are capable of affecting the results. We�re pretty good that way. We have seven guys who can have an impact on the race.� n For the Tiger girls, the team faces a group of strong competition as well. Prior Lake, Fairmont, Willmar and Glencoe-Silver Lake are considered favorites. �If you stay mentally prepared and stay into the race and work as a team, you can surprise yourself with a strong finish,� Jacobs said. �I encourage our girls not to rule anything out. They don�t have to be first; they can be second and (still reach state).�
Jacobs is hoping the Tiger girls can continue their progression of the year. Julia Schultz and Traci Pagel have emerged as the team�s top two runners, but Breha Holcomb, Laura Johnson and Sam Tauer have progressed and helped tighten the team�s pack. Haley Meyer and Lindsay Baun have also dropped their times and could factor into the mix today.
�What would be great for us is if Traci and Julia could jump into the top eight. We need one or two people to get into those real cheap points up front so it acts as a cushion,� Jacobs said. �Then it�s a matter if the rest of the girls can continue to close the gap. They�ve been improving that all year. We certainly have to close the gap on our top people.�
The Tiger girls finished second at the Southwest Conference meet. The team�s oldest varsity runner is Holcomb, who is a junior. The team�s future is bright with young runners like Schulz, Pagel, Johnson, Meyer, Baun and Tauer continuing to progress. Today, the Tiger girls hope their improvement will lead them into the top two.
�I�m not ruling out anything for the team, but it would be a tremendous boost for us to get into the top five and improve from last year�s finish,� Jacobs said. �It�s very simple. Everybody has to cinch it up and go out like crazy. We have to get the best race out of everybody � and it�s the same thing for the boys.�
Notes: The top two teams and 10 overall individuals will advance to the Class AA state meet in Northfield Nov. 2.
Marshall boys lineup:
Yayha Iman
Akey Jumale
Tom Allen
Jon Tauer
Bart Johnson
Salah Mohamed
Adbi Awali
Marshall girls lineup:
Julia Schultz
Traci Pagel
Breha Holcomb
Laura Johnson
Sam Tauer
Haley Meyer
Lindsay Baun
-Courtesy Marshall Independent