Sept. 6, 2005
Contact: Brian Wolff
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Race 1
Mel Brodt Invitational
Date: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Site: Bowling Green Campus (Bowling Green, Ohio)
SETTING THE SCENE: The Vikings will begin their 2005 season on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Mel Brodt Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio. The race will begin at 11:00 a.m. CSU has six new runners this season, with the only returner being senior Shilah Pratt.
PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: The Vikings only have three runners who ran competitive cross country in 2004. Shilah Pratt ran for the CSU and freshmen Audrey Piotrowski and Julie Piotrowski ran for their high school cross country team. Pratt's best time last season was at the Ohio Invitational (9/25) where she ran a 24:32. The other four members of the team all took part in intercollegiate sports other than cross country.
NO STRANGER TO CSU ATHLETICS: Four of the Vikings either are currently or have been on another Cleveland State team during their collegiate careers. Team captain Sherri Douglas spent two years as a member of the softball team, while sophomore Madeline Singer was a member of the inaugural women's soccer team in 2004. Sophomore Lesley Jones and senior Shilah Pratt will both join their winter teams, swimming and fencing, respectively, once the season is over. Junior Amanda Whitmer played two seasons of softball at Cuyahoga Community College before transferring to CSU.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR: Freshmen twins, Audrey Piotrowski and Julie Piotrowski, come to CSU with strong running backgrounds as Audrey holds the Normandy High School record in the two mile (11:50) and Julie is record holder in the one mile (5:08).
HEAD COACH JOE JAKETIC: No stranger to CSU Athletics, Joe Jaketic is in his first year as head coach, but his 35th year overseeing the department's equipment operations. Jaketic worked with the Revco Cleveland Marathon for over 20 years. Jaketic earned his BA in Business and his MED in Sports Management, both from Cleveland State.
JAKETIC ON THE VIKINGS: "The team has been working really hard and are very excited for the start of the season. We are a very young team, but these seven young ladies are very motivated and are looking forward to some live competition. We know we have a lot of work to do, but I have been impressed so far with the team's work ethic and inability to give up. We hope to get better and improve each girl's times as the season progresses."
UP NEXT: The team will travel to Toledo, Ohio to take part in the Central Collegiate Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 4:00 p.m.
