9.4.09 | Women's Cross Country

Baker women claim Maple Leaf Invitational

Baker University's women's cross country team placed five runners in the top 16, cruising to the team title at the Maple Leaf Invitational on Saturday at the Baldwin City Golf Course.
Freshman Lindsey Brown placed fourth in the 4-kilometer race in 15 minutes, 41.26 seconds to pace the Wildcats. Freshman Devin Freeman (sixth, 16:04.20), freshman Brooke Greiger (seventh, 16:23.99), freshman Corinna Papps (12th, 16:36.65) and sophomore Molly Schmeidler (16th, 16:57.38) also contributed to the team score of 45 points. Kansas Wesleyan (62) and Central Methodist (95) placed second and third.
Freshman April Lynn Onnen (17:18.01), junior Mary Loveland (17:50.44) and freshman Dana Loveland (17:56.95) completed Baker's squad.

2009 Season Preview

Junior Mary Loveland leads the Wildcats after placing 16th at last year's Heart of America Athletic Conference meet.

"She finished the year strong," Kindler said. "I suspect with a solid summer Mary will be there leading the pack."
Other key runners back are sophomores Molly Schmeidler and Stephanie Cowell.

Five freshmen will challenge for the top five positions on the team, Kindler said. Most of them were all-state performers in high school cross country and state qualifiers in track.

"We have seven freshmen coming in and all seven are talented," Kindler said. One of the freshmen is Corinna Papps, who placed third last fall at the 4A state cross country meet for Baldwin High School.

Kindler plans to enter his runners in more competitive races this year. "We want to be a top 25 team in the nation and go against top 25 schools," he said. "We want to go head to head with the best to see if we deserve the rankings.

At the first home meet on Sept. 5, all Baker cross country alumni are welcome to compete. It will be a 4K for women and 5K for men.