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Vikings Head to Falcon Invitational for Final Regular Season Meet

Vikings Head to Falcon Invitational for Final Regular Season Meet
Posted: Oct 12, 2009

Oct. 12, 2009

Contact: Greg Murphy

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MEET #7
Falcon Invitational
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
Time: 10:45 a.m.
Site: Bowling Green, Ohio

THE STARTING LINE: Cleveland State concludes its regular season slate when the Vikings compete in the Falcon Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio, on Saturday (Oct. 17). The race is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. at Forrest Creason Golf Course.

LAST TIME OUT: The Vikings finished 10th of 30 teams at the Walt Disney Classic in Orlando, Fla. Sophomore Brittany Elmlinger led the Vikings, placing 61st in 20:49, while sophomore Andria Bazilevich was 78th in 21:10.

THE HEAD COACH: Now in his fifth season at the helm of the cross country program, Joe Jaketic has continued to make steady progress in building the team. A 1972 graduate of Cleveland State, Jaketic guided the Vikings to a ninth place showing at the league championship in 2007 and an eighth place showing in 2006. It was the first time since the 1996-97 MCC Championships that CSU finished ahead of a league foe in back-to-back seasons. Jaketic, who was the equipment manager at CSU for 37 years before retiring last winter, has consistently had his team near the top of the Horizon League in GPA and has won the Academic Progress Rate Award in 2008 and 2009.

UP, UP, AND AWAY: Saturday's event at the Walt Disney World Classic marked the first time that the Vikings flew to compete at an event and was the furthest that CSU has ever traveled for a competition. It wasn't an easy trip, however, as the Vikings had a delay on their flight out of Cleveland due to a malfunction with the original plane. However, a new plane was secured and the Vikings were in the air about 90 minutes later. The Vikings concluded their trip to Orlando by visiting Disney World after Saturday's competition.

SUPER SOPH: Sophomore Brittany Elmlinger has shown no signs of a sophomore slump thusfar, having been CSU's first or second finisher in all six events this season. She was 24th at Cedarville (Sept. 19), running a 19:49. That performance came on the heels of Elmlinger finishing 37th at Bowling Green on Sept. 12 in 19:29, just one second off her personal best time.

BAZILEVICH STEPS UP: Sophomore Andria Bazilevich made her trip to Orlando, Fla., a memorable one as she was CSU's second finisher for the first time in her career. She was 78th overall in 21:10.

BRIDGING THE GAP: One of the biggest goals for CSU this year has been to cut the amount of time between the Vikings first and fifth finishers. That time has improved just about every week, including a gap of less than one minute on Saturday at the Walt Disney Classic. Brittany Elmlinger was CSU's top finisher in 20:49, while Allison Craine was just 51 seconds behind (21:41) as the Vikings fifth finisher. It was the smallest gap ever for CSU.

UP NEXT: CSU will be out of action until Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Vikings compete at the Horizon League Championship in Detroit, Mich.