Cross Country Team Travels to Portland
9/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
September 11, 2007
UPCOMING— The Pepperdine men’s and women’s cross country teams travel to Portland, Oregon, this Friday, Sept.14, for the Pier Park Invitational hosted by Portland State University. The Pier Park course will be the site of the 2008 WCC Championships. The women’s 6k race will start at 4 p.m. followed by the men’s race at 4:45 p.m.
UCI INVITATIONAL— The Pepperdine men’s cross country team placed 10th and the women’s team finished eighth at the Asics UC Irvine Invitational (Sept. 8). Finishing first in the 8k for the men was freshman Conrad Wozniak in 25:58 (33rd). In the 5k women’s race, the Waves were led through the chute by freshman Chelsea Wishard in 19:28 (39th).
Following Wozniak (Irvine, Calif./ Woodbridge HS) was Pepperdine senior Chris Ogle (Tucson, Ariz. /Mountain View HS) in 33rd, freshman Seth Allison (Canyon Texas / Canyon HS) in 48th, freshman David Williams (Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Mira Costa HS) in 65th, and freshman Eric Magana (Whittier, Calif. / La Serna HS) in 80th.
Freshman Lilly Spratt (Lyme Old Lyme, Conn. / Lyme Old Lyme HS) finished second for the Waves in 48th place, followed by freshman Anna Honig (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Snider HS) in 49th, freshman Kelli Binder (Los Gatos, Calif. / Los Gatos HS) in 65th, and freshman Jessica Cervantes (Pasadena / South Pasadena HS) in 66th.
HEAD COACH— Robert Radnoti begins his second season as head coach of the Pepperdine men’s and women’s cross country program. Radnoti previously coached at Thousand Oaks High School where his girls’ team won the Division I state cross country title in 2005. Radnoti brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the program.
ASSISTANT COACHES — Four-time Olympian and U.S. national 800-meter record holder Johnny Gray joins the Pepperdine cross country program this season. Gray will work primarily on speed and technique. Dick Kampman, the former Wave’s cross country coach for 17-years, returns as a volunteer coach. Karen Costello, a 17-year veteran at the high school and community college levels, begins her first season at Pepperdine. Jan Radnoti, who has coached alongside her husband at Thousand Oaks High School, also begins her first year with the Waves as a volunteer assistant.
PEPPERDINE HISTORY —Pepperdine’s cross country program dates back to the 1960s when Ron Pettigrew and Harry Skandera were both All-American runners. The program was dropped when Pepperdine moved its campus to Malibu. However, men’s and women’s cross country was reinstated in the mid-1970s. This year’s women’s squad is the largest in the history of the Pepperdine program.
2007 OUTLOOK — Due to Radnoti’s extensive recruiting efforts, the Waves roster includes strength and depth this season. With 18 recruits from Indiana to Hawaii, this year’s men’s and women’s freshman class should be one of the strongest in Pepperdine history.
On the men’s side, nine new harriers join returners Josh Stutzman and Tim Hatters. Chris Ogle, Conrad Wozniak, Seth Allison, Henri Flores, David Williams, Garrett Reim and Eric Magna are among the newcomers looking to challenge for one the top seven spots on the team.
Returning from last year’s squad are Courtney Young, Amanda Gordon, Ashley Burt, Jessica Heckman, Lauren Carfioli, Brie Carroll, Taylor Gamble, Katie Hyten, Liz Lyons, Abby Uhrinak and Caitlin White. Freshmen Chelsea Wishard, Paige Knudsen, Lily Spratt, Anna Honig, and Kelli Binder are expected to contend for Varsity slots on the women’s team.
PEPPERDINE INVITATIONAL— A high school division was added to the annual Pepperdine Invitational this year. Ninety high school from all over the United States will travel to Malibu to compete at the Pepperdine Invitational. Fifteen colleges and universities will lead off the competition at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 22.
