After relinquishing their MIAA cross country titles last year, Central Missouri State coach Kirk Pedersen would like to re-claim them in 2001. The Mules saw their string of five straight men's league titles end, as Missouri Southern and Truman State finished ahead of them. The Jennies, winners by one point the previous year, fell one point short of Truman State last year and finished second.
Despite the disappointment of losing their MIAA crowns, the Mules and Jennies still had solid postseason performances. Both teams qualified for the NCAA Division II championships, the Mules for the sixth straight year and the Jennies with their first-ever regional title. The Mules finished 13th and the Jennies 14th at the Division II meet and Pedersen has the majority of both squads returning for the 2001 season.
The Mules return four of last year's top seven runners - seniors Paul Bennett, Jay Hill and Joe Mack and sophomore Leif Kennedy. Bennett and Hill finished 14th and 16th, respectively, at last year's MIAA race. However, Pedersen will need to replace #1 runner Vladimir Golias, along with Brayce Forsha and Joe Conley. Senior Mike Knutson, who missed last season due to an injury, junior Jon Dalby and sophomore Hunter Eschelman are among the returners Pedersen hopes can fill the three vacancies. Newcomers Billie and Dale Elliott and freshman Jarod Wall also could make important contributions. The Elliott brothers competed unattached last spring in track and turned in several solid performances. Billie, a junior, transferred from Butler County (Kan.) CC, while Dale, a senior, transferred from Missouri-Rolla.
The Jennies return all but one of last year's top seven runners, including All-America performer Rachel Harvey. Now a senior, Harvey has been the Jennies' top runner each of the last three seasons. Last year she finished second in the MIAA championship, third at the NCAA regional and 21st at the Division II championship. In winning last year's regional title, the Jennies had all five runners finish in the top 15. Only Amber Neal, who was seventh, does not return. In addition to Harvey's third-place finish, seniors Melissa Short, Carrie Riedel and Erica Foltz placed 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. Senior Jill Call and junior Melanie Hill round out the Jennies' top returners. The Jennies' squad also will feature something on their roster few, if any, schools will have - triplets. Freshmen Erin, Kirsten and Nicole Hasemeier are sisters from Elsberry High School.