Cross Country - Midwestern State

By Don Garrett

Cross Country 2012 Preview: Midwestern

On the women’s side of the sport, the powerhouse in cross country is undoubtedly Midwestern (they do not field a men’s team). They have won the LSC title the past 3 years and this year looks no different, even with the loss of the LSC XC champ. They have an outstanding young coach, Koby Styles. Their recruiting class was stunningly good – lots of new kids, some of whom are undoubtedly conference top 10 caliber. In 2011, MSU won the LSC with 43 points, a full 44 points less (remember that in XC the LOWER score wins) than West Texas and 60 points ahead of Angelo. Those are the only 2 teams that appear to be within shouting distance of the Mustangs this year as well.

LOST FROM LAST SEASON

• ·         Brissia Montalvo – the 2011 LSC XC champ. A fierce competitor, who also finished 2^nd in the steeplechase on the track and qualified for the national track meet
• ·         Lindsey Pate – 53^rd in the XC meet and a distant 17^th in the 800 on the track

RETURNEES (with their 2011 place included):

• ·         Ashley Flores (6^th) – junior - the 2010 LSC Freshman of the Year in XC, she scored in both the 1500 (8^th) and the 5K (7^th) last spring at the LSC track meet
• ·         Janel Campbell (8^th) – soph - 6^th in the 10K and 10^th in the 5K on the track
• ·         Michelle Krezonoski (12^th) – soph - one of the top freshmen in the LSC in XC, she did not translate that into success on the track, where she place 16^th in the 5K
• ·         Kim Krezonoski (16^th) – soph - like her twin sister, she had a tough time turning her strong XC season into success on the track, finishing 17^th in the 1500 last spring
• ·         Sara Cuba (23^rd) – soph – notice that Midwestern had 4 true freshmen in the top 23 at conference in 2011 – with one year of experience, they should be exponentially better
• ·         Heather Owen (31^st) – junior – only placed 18^th in the LSC 5K on the track
• ·         Melody Caldwell (32^nd) – junior – was able to pick up a track point as well, as she finished 8^th in the steeplechase last spring in Commerce
• ·         Cara Mack – sophomore – redshirted XC last fall, after placing a very competitive 16^th in XC during her freshman year – a big “addition” for Midwestern

NEWCOMERS – a massive recruiting class, with lots and lots of potential

• ·         Brittany Adams – freshman from Fort Worth Castleberry – at the 3A state meet, she was 3^rd in the 1600 and 4^th in the 3200
• ·         Danielle Androes – freshman from Prosper – 6^th 3A 1600 last year
• ·         Danielle Chavaria – junior transfer from Antelope Valley CC – 11^th in the California JC 5K
• ·         Tylo Farrar – freshman from Spearman – at the 2A state meet, she was 5^th 1600, 7^th 3200
• ·         Carrie Finson – freshman from Topeka, KS, Jefferson West – at the Kansas 4A meet, she placed 8^th in the 3200 and 11^th in the 1600
• ·         Mackinsey Flores – freshman from Weatherford – 4^th in the District 4-5A 3200
• ·         C.J. Frizzell – freshman from Canyon – in the District 3-4A meet she was 2^nd in the 800 and 3^rd in the 400 – I saw her run 2-3 times last year and she has terrific potential
• ·         Abigail Gonzales – junior transfer from Western Texas Col – prepped at Graham HS before getting 9^th in the JC 10K and 10^th in the JC 5K in 2012
• ·         Katy Kipp – freshman from Fort Worth Castleberry – 2^nd in the District 11-3A 800
• ·         Alex Kohrs – freshman from Highlands Ranch, CO, Thunderridge HS – 8^th in the Continental League 1600 last spring, plus 76^th in the Colorado 5A XC-2011
• ·         Ana Lopez – freshman from Hereford – 6^th in the 4A 1600, plus 5^th in the Region I-4A 3200, missing the state meet in that event by 3 places
• ·         Nadia Majed – grad student from Tulsa, OK, Union – a graduate from Oklahoma Baptist, where she was 7^th in the Sooner Conference 5K in 2011 – she will have one year of eligibility left
• ·         Maira Salinas – freshman from Luling – at the 2A state meet, she was 4^th 3200 and 6^th 1600
• That is a LOT of prospects, with a LOT of potential. If MSU hits on only 2-3 of these, they could be set for the next 2-3 years.