Men's & Women's Cross Country
Current Season Preview

updated 10/03/2008

2008 Women's Cross Country Team Ranked No. 3 In Region   

A question that Kutztown University head women’s cross country coach Ray Hoffman finds himself asking is, "Who’s his No. 1 runner?"

But don’t get him wrong, it’s not a question that bothers him. Not at all.

With a host of experienced runners, the 2008 Golden Bears will vie for the top spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and another outstanding performance at the NCAA Division II East Regionals.

"We have a super talented group of athletes and a lot of quality depth," Hoffman said. "We have four girls that could compete as our No. 1 runner."

Joanna Horstmann (sr. Downingtown/Downingtown West) leads the charge as a potential No. 1 as she is the top returner in the region from 2007.

The 5-foot-9 senior finished third behind graduated teammate Stephanie Williams (second) at the East Regionals in Lock Haven last season. Coming off of an All-PSAC performance at Kutztown in the PSAC meet (14th, 24:33), Horstmann posted a season-best time of 21:38 to lead the Golden Bears squad to a third-place finish at the East Regionals.

Horstmann finished 48th at the NCAA Championships two weeks later.

"Joanna had a tremendous summer of training," Hoffman said. “If she can remain focused and determined, she can put herself in the hunt for a regional championship.”

Cheryl Dingman (jr. Lansdale/North Penn), Cristina Reimer (so. Chester Springs/Downingtown East) and Kristin Cupido (so. Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) figure to compete for the top spot on the Golden Bears’ lineup, too.

"They’ll all be right up front for us," Hoffman said.

Cupido had a solid freshman campaign, which included a 37th-place finish at the PSAC meet (25:49) and a 29th-place finish at the East Regionals (22:46). Dingman was a crucial part to KU’s 2006 East Regional title and the Golden Bears’ 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, and Reimer, who raced in one event in 2007, was a sixth-place finisher in the 5,000 during the PSAC Indoor Championships. Reimer also placed fifth in the 3,000 steeplechase at the PSAC Outdoor Championships.

KU’s talent doesn’t run out there. Hoffman’s 2008 squad, which is ranked third in the East Region and fifth in the PSAC to start the season, is loaded with quality athletes.

"We are 10 girls deep with good talent," Hoffman said.

Returners Maureen Watson (jr. Walnutport/Allentown Central Catholic), Keri Brown (so. Southampton, N.J./Seneca) and Hailey Dell (sr. Saranac Lake, N.Y./Saranac Lake) will look to pick up where they left off last season, while newcomers Kristy Ulhrich (fr. Duncannon/Susquenita), Jill Kostishion (fr. Hilltown/Pennridge) and Steph Grimm (sr. Fleetwood/Oley Valley) — will provide great depth for KU.

Watson had her best race of the season at the East Regionals, finishing 19th (22:31). Dell also ran a great race at Regionals, placing 34th (22:53). Brown competed in six races for the Golden Bears with her best finish coming at the Maroon and Gold Classic (ninth, 26:01).

Ulhrich is a three-time state qualifier in distance events for track and field and Kostishion was a two-time state qualifier in cross country and a member of Pennridge’s third-place distance medley relay team at the PIAA indoor championships.

Grimm is a transfer from West Virginia University, but she did not run cross country with the Mountaineers. Still, Hoffman believes she will be competitive with the top women on the team.

Lauren Ayars (jr. Ocean Twp., N.J./Ocean Twp.), Michele Celenza (sr. Harleysville/North Penn), Holly Pinkerton (sr. Pen Argyl/Pen Argyl) and Becky Webb (jr. Laurys Station/Parkland) also return for the Golden Bears.

Celenza and Webb competed in three races last year, and Pinkerton helped the Golden Bears finish fifth at the PSAC meet.

Newcomers Shannon Colgan (fr. Boyertown/Boyertown), Jessica Frederick (fr. Whitehall/Whitehall), Lauren Mayer (Chester, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury), Chelsea Ray (fr. Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) and Lindsay Ray (fr. Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) fill out the 2008 squad for the Golden Bears.

KU opens the season with the Lehigh Invitational at Lehigh University at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29. The Golden Bears will compete in seven events, including the Maroon and Gold Classic on Sept. 6, before traveling to Lock Haven for the PSAC Championships on Nov. 1.

The competition in the PSAC will challenge the Golden Bears as Hoffman deems it to be one of the best conferences in nation. PSAC schools make up nine of the top 10 teams in the East Region.

2008 Men's Cross Country Team Building For Future  

Captains Ben Loht (jr. Lewistown/Indian Valley) and Kevin Rodgers (so. Clifton Heights/Upper Darby) both know what it takes to compete at the collegiate level in men’s cross country.

In 2008, their new challenge will be to take charge of a young, talented team and help solidify the future for the Golden Bears.

As the only returning letterwinners — Tom Mooney (so. Churchville/Council Rock South) and Eli Weeks (fr. Pottstown/Owen J. Roberts) will redshirt this season — Loht and Rodgers will be running alongside five freshmen this fall.

PSAC PRESEASON POLL

The Kutztown University men's cross country team was selected to finish 10th in the PSAC. Edinboro was picked to finish first, followed by Slippery Rock, Lock Haven, Shippensburg and Bloomsburg. California (Pa.), Mansfield, East Stroudsburg, Millersville and KU round out the top 10. West Chester was selected to finish 11th, Indiana (Pa.) 12th, Mercyhurst 13th, Gannon 14th and Cheyney 15th. PSAC cross country Web site

That doesn’t have KU head coach Ray Hoffman worried.

“They’re just great leaders and they will help develop the younger runners,” KU head coach Ray Hoffman said.

Loht ran in seven races last season, including the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet at Kutztown and the NCAA Division II East Regionals. He finished 78th with at time of 29:08 at the PSAC meet and 75th (34:05) at the Regional meet.

“Loht is ready to step up and be a leader,” Hoffman said of the former PIAA state qualifier. “He looks like he’s ready to make the move to be a top runner.”

Rodgers also ran in seven races, finishing 68th at the PSAC meet (28:55) and 71st at the Regionals (33:58).

Loht and Rodgers, however, will not be able to do it alone this season, which is where the freshmen fit into the 2008 game plan.

“We have a solid group of newcomers who we will rely on heavily,” Hoffman said.

Leading the wave of newcomers is PIAA standout Ryan Reich (fr. Oley/Oley Valley). Reich, who has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Golden Bears, finished 24th at the 2007 PIAA cross country meet. He also was a 2007 District 3 Class AA 1,600 champion in track.

Paul Kuehnle (fr. Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) will join Reich in the Golden Bears' top five, as he was an All-State Group 1 first team member three years at Saddle Brook High School in New Jersey and a first team All-County member all four years. He also was a Meet of Champions qualifier.

“Reich and Kuehnle are established runners,” Hoffman said.

Frank Nick (fr. Kintnersville/Palisades) also is a runner who Hoffman believes can step up and compete this season.

“We see tremendous upside in Nick,” he said.

Steve Guthrie (Fr. Chester Springs/Devon Prep) and Jubilant Kunce (fr. Red Lion/Red Lion) will add depth for the Golden Bears.

“We’ll look to develop this group,” Hoffman said. “It’s definitely a year of rebuilding. We’ll get things going in the right direction.”

KU, which was selected to finish 10th in the PSAC and the region, will open the season at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Lehigh Valley Invitational at Lehigh University.