Article Date
November 2, 2005
Both the Bison and Lady Bison cross country teams brought home the Region VI and Sooner Athletic Conference championships for the 2005 season a year ago.
The conference and regional titles throttled the men's and women's teams into the national tournament in Louisville, Ky.
This year could be more of the same for the men with returning everyone from a season ago.
Daniel Ellis leads the way for the 17th ranked Bison. As Ellis goes, so do the Bison. Ellis finished third last year the meet and if he knocks off favorite Kenneth Bowling of Oklahoma Christian OBU will have a strong chance to take the conference title. Theron Stoltzfus finished sixth last year and Landon Willets finished ninth. The Bison can get a lot of help from upstart freshman Lance Goodwin who head coach, Ford Mastin, said has been dynamic for the team.
Cole Tunnell, Michael Elizondo, Jacob Wright, or Ricardo Diaz could all finish in fifth for OBU.
OBU will have to battle ninth ranked Wayland Baptist for the conference and regional titles.
Mastin said that all the men have to do to get into the national tournament is not fall apart in the meet.
"They have to finish strong and at least be in the top two to get in," said Mastin.
The story is different for the Lady Bison however. They must win the conference and regional meet get into the national tournament. OBU took a big hit after losing three of its top runners from the conference championship team in 2005. Mirriam Kaumba, who won the title a year ago, used up her eligibility last year and Katie and Kesley Engstrom, who finished second and third for the Lady Bison last year transferred.
OBU will have to get by 25th ranked Oklahoma Christian and Bekah Brock and Kyta Willets lead the way.
Brock finished seventh a year ago and Mastin said that Willets has surprised him a little with the success she has had in cross country. Katy Rader finished 12th a year ago and will need to run well for OBU to take home the SAC title.
The starting time for the 2006 SAC/Region VI meet is 9:30 a.m. for the Lady Bison and 10:15 a.m. for the men.