McKendree Women's Cross Country Team Set to Make GLVC Debut in 2012

(LEBANON, Ill., Aug. 27)—There will be lots of familiar faces to lead the McKendree University women's cross country team into a new era during the 2012 season.
 
With McKendree University set for its first season of competition in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2012-13, the Bearcat harriers will be aiming to finish strong at the GLVC Championship Meet on Oct. 20 in Springfield, Mo. Until that time, head coach Neal West believes his squad will have plenty of chances to grow and develop as one unit.
 
“We have a lot of returnees, which is always a good thing,” said West. “This group has been together for a couple of years, and it will be interesting to see them develop as the year progresses. We have four very challenging meets ahead of us before the GLVC meet, so there's room and time for growth.”
 
McKendree will have its top two runners back from a year ago in juniors Megan Doty (Collinsville, IL/Triad) and Hannah Inyart (Belleville, IL/Belleville East). Doty was the Bearcats' top finisher in all five of the team's meets in 2011, ending the year with a 17^th-place showing at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Fall Classic. Inyart was also one of the team's stalwarts last season, recording a trio of top-50 efforts, including a 24^th-place finish in the same event.
 
“Megan and Hannah are our top returners,” said West. “They are juniors and I expect they will lead the way for us both on and off the course. Both are very fit runners and they are going to have great seasons for us.”
 
Junior Lauren Ewart (Troy, IL/Triad) adds another key component near the top of the chart for McKendree. Ewart transferred to the Bearcat program from Samford University last spring. Like Doty, Ewart helped nearby Triad High School to a trio of regional championships in the Illinois High School Association Class 2A ranks.
 
“Lauren will be very impactful to our lineup,” said West. “She brings in a wealth of experience. The trio of Megan, Hannah and Lauren should reflect our top three.”
 
The lone seniors for McKendree in 2012 will be Ciera Landolt (Marine, IL/Triad) and Alex Senaldi (Staunton, IL/Staunton). Landolt, who is another Triad product, and Senaldi both turned in their best performances of the year at the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale.
 
West says that the remaining slots will be up for grabs thanks to a spirited competition during pre-season training. Sophomores Anne Nikola (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) and Christine Cunningham (St. Jacob, IL/Triad) – who competed as freshman in 2011 – have been impressive in camp. Nikola came on strong last season for the Bearcats, while Cunningham raced in all five meets. Cunningham also raced at Triad in her high school career.
 
Freshman Kourtney Huelskamp (Breese, IL/Mater Dei) is another runner that West believes will be in the mix for the Bearcats. Huelskamp earned All-Area honors and was a three-year letter winner at Mater Dei Catholic High School.
 
Other top returnees for the McKendree cross country squad include junior Courtney Crowder (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville)and sophomore Shorrae Nichols (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville). In addition to Ewart and Huelskamp, top newcomers include junior Janelle Jankowski (Albers, IL/Breese Central), and freshmen Gretchen Buehrle (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) andKaris Johnson (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence Central).
 
West feels that the key for the 2012 McKendree women's cross country team will be to gain experience throughout the year, building up to the season-ending GLVC Meet, which will be hosted by Drury University. Unlike the Bearcats' days as members of the American Midwest Conference, where the conference meet was contested at five kilometers, the GLVC lays out a six-kilometer course for its title event.
 
“The goal is to keep adding to the things we work on the week before,” said West. “We need to get our eyes opened and see what the GLVC is all about. We will have to learn about how we handle the increased distance in the conference meet from 5K to 6K. I believe we are in good shape to make that transition and we will grow as the year progresses. I really like this group of ladies and what they bring to our program.”
 
McKendree will open its season Saturday at the Washington University Early Bird Meet in St. Louis' Forest Park. The Bearcats will also get to preview the GLVC championship course a month early at the Richard Clark Invitational in Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 15. McKendree will race in the Greater Louisville Classic two weeks later before heading to Terre Haute, Ind., for the Rose-Hulman Pre-Nationals on Oct. 6. The GLVC Championship Meet is slated for Oct. 20.