Cross Country Runners Arrive at OU

NORMAN, Okla. -- The 2004 OU men's and women's cross country teams reported to the Norman campus today.

The student-athletes completed their mandatory physicals and took team pictures Wednesday. Thursday they will participate in team meetings and equipment checkout.

“We had an outstanding season last year,” Rothoff says, “and last year's freshman are one year older and wiser. They should improve greatly over last season as long as they make good decisions. The main goal each year is to improve. The top five in the Big 12 usually go to the NCAAs and how we finish in the conference meet is indicative of how we finish in regionals. The Big 12 Conference is arguably the toughest in the nation from top to bottom.”

The women's team is highlighted by the return of NCAA qualifier Jessica Eldridge, Nicola Maye, Catherine Odell, Jackie Dubois, and sophomore transfer Aja Clark. The roster is filled out by senior Emily Leonard, sophomores Andrea Bonner, Kristi Cook, Julie Swagerty, Shannon Wilson and incoming freshman Clementine McCutchen.

Eldridge, with a third-place finish at last year's regional, qualified for the national championships in Waterloo, Iowa. She also gave OU the first women's individual Big 12 title in a running event by winning the outdoor 800 meters. She qualified for the NCAA championships in the outdoor 800, 1500 and 5000 meters and the indoor mile. This summer she won the U.S. Junior National title in the 1500 meters and raced for the U.S. in the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

“Jessica didn't know what to expect last year,” Rothoff mentions. “This year she has the confidence she needs and will build even more. Jessica is someone who made huge improvements from cross country to indoor track to the outdoor season.”

Maye and Odell are expected to improve tremendously from last season. The pair should also be contending for all-conference honors and national championship qualification.

“Nicola has more abilities than she believes,” Rothoff says. “Last year was the first year she had ever run a full season of cross country in her life. Catherine will make huge improvements after having one year under her belt. She really made a breakthrough during the indoor season.”

The men's squad is highlighted by the return of junior Blake Culp and sophomores Jason Coleman and Salah Hussein.

“We lost four of our top five runners,” Rothoff says. “It will be hard to replace them but I do believe that we can be better than last year. Last year's redshirts are more mature and should contribute a lot to the team. Jason had a good freshman year and he should be the one to lead our team this year,” Rothoff says. “He should be a contender for all-conference.”

In 2003, Coleman set two OU all-time marks for best finish by a true freshman with his results in the Big 12 Conference Championship and NCAA Midwest Regional, finishing 49th in both.

Culp, the only returnee to have beaten Coleman, progressed through the indoor and outdoor track seasons and is ready to produce quality results for the Sooners.

“Blake made big improvements in the track season,” Rothoff comments. “He has matured and has more experience which should lead to a big jump this year.”

Seniors Andrew Call and Aldwyn Sappleton, junior Billy Grona, sophomores Stuart Lisle and Andrew Tower, redshirt freshmen Jason Penland and Stephen Taylor, and newcomers Brayon Brown, Josh Webb and sophomore Scott Downard complete the men's team.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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