Lancers Fired Up For XC Season

BY SCOTT MORRISON
sports@yankton.net

Beginning his second year as head coach for the Mount Marty College Cross Country team, Randy Fischer has the numbers to have a quality season.

In his first year as head coach, Fischer did not have enough runners to fill up a team until the conference meet. He borrowed a few MMC women’s soccer players to give them a chance to compete with the remainder of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

This year on the women’s side, numbers aren’t going to be a problem. The Lancers have 12 girls that hope to battle with GPAC competition.

“Last year we didn’t have the numbers, but we are excited about having a full team this year,” Fischer said.

Of the twelve girls running for the Lancers, there are only three of which who are returning. These girls need to use their experience from last year to lead the way this year.

Megan O’Grady, a junior from Tyndall, was the best runner for the Lancers. She finished with a team best 19:42.00.

“Megan is one of our best athletes. She came on in the last part of the season and broke 20:00 numerous times. We are expecting a lot from her this year,” Fischer said.

Fischer and the Lancers hope that O’Grady can be a leader for some of the younger girls this season.

Senior Jessica Albers is also expected to have a strong year. Albers earned a career best 22:12 last year. Albers should also be a team leader.

“Jessica improved a ton from the beginning of the season to the end. We hope that she can be a leader this season,” Fischer said.

Sophomore Ashley Solem is the Lancers final returner. Solem battled injuries last season and hopes that she can compete pain free this year.

With the number on new players on their team this year, the Lancers have an exceptionally bright future ahead of them.

This starts with freshman and former Yankton Gazelle standout Jade Steinberg. Steinberg Gazelle team won four state championships in her high school career.

“Jade brings quality experience to our team. We think that she is a great fit for our team,” Fischer said.

Other new runners that begin their college cross country careers include Brittany Fischer, Amy Gubbels, Alicia Pick, Vanessa Lectenberg, Becka Jensen, Megan Poppe, and a cast of other girls.

Poppe, a freshman from Avon, plans to use cross country as a conditioner for her basketball and track seasons.

Poppe has never competed in cross country before, but it should pay dividends for her conditioning.

On the mens’ side the Lancers have five runners competing this year. With such a limited number of athletes, everyone must do well on an individual basis.

This starts with distance standout Titus Cosgey. Cosgey, a sophomore from Africa, should be a standout on the Lancer squad.

The Lancers also have runners Lantz Kulp, Caleb Herreen, Mithcell Zink, and Tyler Smith.

Fischer’s teams begin competition at the USD Invite in Vermillion on September 6. The Mount Marty Invitational is to be held October 25th in Vermillion.

Given their youthful exuberance, the Lancers may have a bit of learning to do. As the Lancers begin their season, their success is going to depend on the adjustments they can make.

Some of the Lancers veteran runners need to step up to help some of the younger runners. They hope for positive results throughout the season.

“We are looking for improvements from last year. We have a young team that has the ability move up in the GPAC standings. We will be happy if we can be in the middle of the GPAC standings,” Fischer said.

This may prove difficult given the talent level throughout the remainder of the conference.
“The GPAC is very tough and all schools are going to be tough. We have to rise up and compete to our potential,” Fischer added.