2003 CROSS COUNTRY OUTLOOK

Tri-State University Men and Women’s Cross Country Coach Mike Cole has his teams aiming to qualify for the national championships. The men lost Jay Deardorf and Jon Fennig, but this year’s team is expected to be led by returners Phil Baraonowski and Tim Heiman. Steve Buell, Jared Turner, Erik Johnson and Carl Schumacher also return and will challenge for a spot among the team’s top seven runners. Nine freshmen join the team, including Ryan Hurlock, Chris Rife, Michael Sobieraj, and Lyle Oesterling. 

Amanda Portis, fresh off an NAIA National Championship in the 10,000 meters, will lead a team of women that returns everyone from last year.  As Portis runs for a national championship in cross-country, she will be backed by Jenny Gabel, who qualified nationals in track. Hannah Favors, who was the number two runner last year, along with Leslie Kleminski and Betsy Baumbaugh, should make the women strong contenders.