TMP cross country starts Saturday
Published on -9/3/2010, 10:30 AM
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By CONOR NICHOLL
Nearly a year later, coach Matt Dumler had two vivid memories from the 2009 Thomas More Prep-Marian girls' cross country season. At regionals, the Monarchs were uncertain where they finished in the team standings before the award ceremony. Then, officials announced TMP earned second place and qualified for state as a team.
A week later, the Monarchs tied with Norton for third in at the state meet. TMP eventually finished fourth because of a tiebreaker, still the best girls' cross country finish in school history.
This season, TMP returns its top four runners and adds three new varsity runners in juniors Rachel Jacobs and Jenna Lang and freshman Kayla Walker.
Jacobs and Lang played volleyball last year. The Monarchs, ranked No. 4 in the preseason cross country poll, could post a better season than 2009's record-breaking year.
TMP opens the season Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Hoisington Invitational.
"They understand that there is work to be done and they can go as far as they want to work," Dumler said. "They have been pretty down to earth with it."
Sophomore Heather Ruder finished second in state cross country to Ellinwood's Jenna Snell. In track, she defeated Snell at the state meet en route to sweeping all three distance races.
"She is running with confidence, but part of that is just maturity," Dumler said.
"Last year, she was a real timid freshman. She didn't quite understand what to expect, but now she kind of knows what's coming and knows what she has to do. She knows that she is chasing Jenna."
Sophomore Alison Pfeifer, an all-state cross country runner, returns at full strength after she missed track for health reasons. Pfeifer ran a mile in 5 minutes, 51 seconds during a time trial and looked strong during the summer Herzogfest run. Sophomore Anne Mindrup and senior Hayley Taylor round out the key returners.
The boys' squad doesn't have a junior or senior and will likely run junior varsity until midseason.
"I think (Pfeifer) is back to where she was last year," Dumler said. "I think she is another one that is mentally prepared, mentally knows what she is capable of and knows where she wants to go."
