October 31, 2002
Haven Cross Country Set For PSAC Championships

   
  (Lock Haven, Pa.) -  The Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Edinboro University to compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships this Saturday, November 2. The men will run first at 10 a.m., followed by the women at 11 a.m. This year’s championship is different from past championship meets in that teams are now allowed to race nine runners as opposed to seven as in previous years. Both the Bald and Lady Eagles will be vying for their first-ever conference cross country title. 
            For the men, sophomores Chris Cowan (Horseheads, N.Y./Thomas A. Edison) and Joe Wiegner (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock) will be the Bald Eagles’ front runners. Cowan, who was the PSAC Rookie of the Year and All-PSAC (4th) last season, is predicted to be in the lead pack once again this year. Wiegner, a transfer from James Madison University, is competing in his first conference championship and will press for all-conference honors.
            After Cowan and Wiegner, The Haven is rooted with a strong pack of seven runners who could very easily make the battle for the conference title a tight one. Four experienced juniors will race including Mike Trumbull (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney), a 2001 all-conference finisher, Dan Bobo (Bergen, N.Y./Notre Dame), Rick Clendaniel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), and Mike Rohl (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area).  The Bald Eagle contingent will also utilize senior Larz Selmer-Larsen (Mill Hall, Pa./Bald Eagle-Nittany), sophomore Jeff Skwierz (Tresckow, Pa./Hazleton Area), and rookie Billy Buckenmeyer (Alexander, N.Y./Alexander Central). 

 
(r) Chris Cowan and (l) Jodi White will look
 to lead Lock Haven this weekend at the 
PSAC Cross Country Championships 
in Edinboro, Pa.
 

           “This group of guys has the talent to put themselves in the running for the conference title,” said first-year head coach Aaron Russell, “Our 3-4-5 runners need to run smart and aggressive if they want to have a chance.” 
            The two favorites for this year’s men’s team title are Edinboro and Millersville University—both squads are nationally ranked, seated respectively in 12th and 16th place.
            As for the women, the Lady Eagles are led by a group of seniors and one freshman. The senior trio of Meghan Johnson (Brookville, Pa./Brookville), Katrina Brown (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn), and Jill Russell (Philadelphia, Pa./Springfield) has been consistently among the Haven’s top four all season. Freshman Jodi White (Athens, Pa./Athens Area) has come into her own the last several meets, finishing as Lock Haven’s number one and two runner. 
            Junior Lynda Buxton (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) and freshmen Sharla DiMase (Ellwood City, Pa./Lincoln) and Sarah Robertson (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area) round out the Lady Eagles’ top seven.
            “Our lady’s team has been plagued with some injuries and illnesses throughout the season, and they’ll need to run their best race of the year break into the upper tier of schools,” said Russell.
            The favorite for this season’s women title is Indiana (Pa.) University, ranked 12th nationally. Another top contender will be the defending champions from No. 18-ranked Edinboro University.
            Last season, the Lock Haven men’s and women’s squad finished fourth and sixth overall with Edinboro University winning both team titles.

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