2007 Baker University Cross Country Outlook

The 2007 teams for the both the men and women look to be young but will have some very talented runners with returnees and newcomers to the program.

On the women’s side, our top returnee will Amber Keith who lead the team last year in each meet and should make a contender for the number 1 runner this year.  Other juniors that will be returning are Katie James, Shannee Barron, and Ariel Penner.

Newcomers to the program are three notable Kansas freshmen, Chelsea Tweitemeyer, Cheney High School, Mary Loveland, Wichita Independent High School, and Linda Rodriguez, Dodge City High School.  All three were state qualifiers in cross country and track & field through out there high school career and will be a great addition to the team.  The other newcomer is Kelsey Heckathorne, a returnee for track and field at Baker University but will be running cross country for the first time. 

With the combination of the old and new, the team will look to climb its way up the conference and improve on last years finish.

On the men’s side our top returnee will be Donnie Gardner, who lead the team last year and just missed out on qualifying for the national meet.  Other returnees include two seniors, Andrew McGregor and Kyle Paul, and one junior, Zac Towns.

The men’s team will have 4 newcomers to the program with AJ Jimenez, Mesa Community College transfer, leading the way.  AJ was one of the top runners on his team in Arizona and we look for him to be running with the rest of the upperclassmen.  3 freshmen will be joining the team with all being state qualifiers in cross country and track.   Chris Scheideman, Wamego High School, Nick Wagoner, Maranatha Academy High School, and Justin Hill, Shawnee Mission West High School.

The team looks to come together and have a much stronger year with the leadership from the upperclassmen and advancing high into the conference and national meet.