The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams will open their seasons this weekend at the Green and White Invitational ' their first of only two home meets this year.
Running at home will be great
especially for returning athletes Ohio coach Clay Calkins said of the meet that will be held at the Ohio University golf course. They know the course; it's the same one they ran last year. It's a great course and a fast course.
Although the meet is one of six prior to the conference championships, Calkins decided to rest some of his best runners for next week's more competitive Mel Brodt Invitational at Bowling Green and run his athletes battling for the final remaining varsity starting spots.
Invitees for this weekend's meet include Ohio Valley College, Shawnee State and Robert Morris.
Calkins spoke highly of the men and women from Robert Morris and also Shawnee State women's team, but cited his platoon of freshmen runners as the reason he is not worried.
Leading the young women's team in the meet will be experienced junior Kendra Churchill and sophomore Kelly Friedmann.
I'm definitely ready to get back into competing
Friedmann said. It has been awhile.
With the shortage of upperclass women competing this weekend, both Churchill and Friedmann hope to take on more of a leadership role.
There's only a few of us upperclassmen and there are so many freshmen that you kind of do need to take a leadership role to show them the ins and outs and everything
Churchill said.
As for the men, freshmen Will Rover and Ridge Robinson will be key runners this weekend and are said they are excited to start their career with the Bobcats.
I ran a couple road races this summer but I'm excited to run here
Rover said. I'd like to make varsity and time-wise I'd like to hit the low 26s.
Spots on the varsity's top seven are up for grabs at the event.
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