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Vikings to Compete at All-Ohio Championships on Friday

Vikings to Compete at All-Ohio Championships on Friday
Posted: Oct 06, 2008

Oct. 6, 2008

Contact: Greg Murphy

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THE STARTING LINE: Following a week off, Cleveland State returns to action when the Vikings travel to Delaware, Ohio to compete at the All-Ohio Championships on Friday, Oct. 10, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The 5,000-meter race will be contested at the Methodist Theological School and Delaware Golf Course and is being hosted by Ohio Wesleyan.

LAST TIME OUT: Cleveland State had two runners finish in the top-20 en route to finishing fourth of four teams at the Ohio University Invitational. Colleen Conway bettered her personal-best time by 50 seconds, finishing 17th in 19:12, while Brittany Elmlinger was 20th in a lifetime best time of 19:28. Kelly Zaleski also ran a personal best, finishing 30th in 20:17.

THE HEAD COACH: Now in his fourth season at the helm of the cross country program, Joe Jaketic has continued to make steady progress in building the team. Last season, Jaketic guided the squad to a ninth place finish at the Horizon League Championships which came on the heels of an eighth place finish in 2006. It marked the first time since the 1996-97 MCC Championships that CSU finished ahead of a league foe in back-to-back seasons.

SHE DOES IT HER WAY: Junior Colleen Conway has had quite a month, bettering her personal best time in each of the last weeks. It began at the Tommy Evans Invitational when she ran a 20:12. The following week, she bettered her time by seven seconds (20:05) at the Mel Brodt Invitational before lowering her time by three seconds (20:02) at the Cedarville Invitational. Two weeks ago, Conway blasted her personal best by 50 seconds, running a 19:12 at the Ohio Invitational.

NICE START, FROSH: Freshman Brittany Elmlinger has made quite an impression in her first five races for the Vikings. In her first event, Elmlinger was CSU's top finisher at the Bill Sudeck Classic (Aug. 30), placing 22nd overall in 20:52. In each of the next four races, Elmlinger was CSU's second finisher, including a 20th place finish at the Ohio University Invitational where she ran a lifetime best time of 19:28.

CRAINE OUT: Sophomore Allison Craine will most miss the entire 2008 season due to a stress fracture in her leg. Craine was CSU's top finisher in all eight events last year, including a 19th place finish at the Horizon League Championships.

... BUT PIOTROWSKI BACK: Junior Julie Piotrowski made her first appearance of the season at the Ohio Invitational (Sept. 27) after missing the first four races with a foot injury. She finished 47th overall in 23:34.

SISTER ACT: The CSU roster features two sets of sisters, including twins Audrey and Julie Piotrowski. The other sisters are junior Colleen Conway and her younger sibling, Bridgit, a freshman who has yet to compete in an event this season.

UP NEXT: The Vikings will compete at the Falcon Invitational next Saturday (Oct. 18) in their final tune-up before the Horizon League Championship.