Mount Union Senior Jusin Meeson takes us through the ups and downs of the past 15 months or so of his running life--from his All-OAC 10k performance in '07 to a frustrating fall and ultimately some time off from running this past track season.
Justin also discusses Mount's lofty, yet attainable goals coming into the fall. This team-first testimonial is a breath of fresh air.
Thanks to Justin for a great interview!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Purple Raiders look for better results in 2008
The Mount Union squad is anxious to get back on the grass this fall. With many of the teams expectations falling short in 2007, they look to rebound in 2008. The team is hoping to improve upon their 3rd place performance at the conference meet and get back to the National meet that will be held in the familiar confines of Hanover, IN. They will lose some key contributions from a couple seniors, but return a youthful, experienced, and motivated group of guys.
Leading the Raiders this fall will be senior Dustin Ford. Dustin is coming off his best cross season ever where he garnered All-Conference honors placing 4th, 16th at Regionals in a PR of 25:27 and in doing so qualifying himself individually for his third trip to Nationals in Northfield, MN. In Minnesota Dustin ran his 4th sub 26:00 minute 8k which was good enough for 115th place, his highest place at the National meet in his three years at Mount. Look for Dustin to pick up where he left off and be the leader of the Raiders pack this fall.
The Raiders return a plethora of talent expecting to compete for spots 2-7. Sophomore Ty Griffin is coming off a very strong campaign in both cross country and track where he showed his range earning All-Conference honors in all three seasons. That is impressive for anyone, let alone a freshman. There is no doubt Ty will be a key contributor for the Raiders this fall.
Junior's Bryce Basista and Dan Whisler are looking to give the Raiders much needed consistency this fall. Both have shown the potential of being top tier runners in the OAC. Last year Bryce placed 16th at the Conference meet, 43rd at Regionals, and as a freshman was 116th at Nationals. Dan has had impressive performances in both cross country and track. Last year he was a top 5 runner for much of the first half of the season highlighted by placing 2nd on the team at the Akron Invitational. Then he proceeded to place in both the 3k and 5k at the OAC Indoor Championship, and placed 4th place in a PR of 9:46 at the OAC Outdoor Championship. If Mount can get both of these guys running on full cylinders at the end of the season the question won't be whether or not they make it to Nationals, but how high can they place.
Sophomore Scott Wolfe hopes to take his success from the track onto the grass this fall. Although Scott may have fallen short of his own expectations last fall, he more than exceeded them this past spring. He improved dramatically in just his first year at Mount. A 17:00 and 10:00 high schooler, Scott ran 15:49 and 33:00 respectively this spring as a freshman. In fact, during the 10k at the All-Ohio outdoor meet his 8k split was well over 60 seconds faster than his PR in cross country. Scott has all the tools to help the Raiders reach all their goals this cross country season and beyond.
Senior Justin Meeson is looking to recover from a sub par cross country season last year where he was diagnosed with both asthma and mono. Justin fought through both issues courageously but was obviously not the same individual who placed 3rd in the 10k at the previous OAC outdoor meet. Justin has the talent, work ethic, experience, attitude, and leadership skills to get back on track and be a major contributor for the Raiders this fall.
Senior Matt Dieterich brings consistency and experience to the Raiders squad this fall. Matt has been a solid performer in the past three years at Mount and expectations are no different for his last year in the Raiders jersey. Matt made it onto the squad that ran at Regionals last year where he placed 6th on the team. This cross country season he plans on helping the Raiders make it back to Nationals.
The dark horse comes in the form of Junior Harrison Markel. The Ashtabula Edgewood product is very talented, but has been troubled with a thyroid condition that has made his first two years at Mount frustrating. His thyroid problem does not allow him to perform at a high level on a consistent basis. Talent is not the issue, as Harrison ran under 4:30 as a sophomore in high school and just last summer ran 26:32 at the Johnnycake Jog. If Harrison can find a way to combat this on going thyroid condition he will add another dimension for the Raiders this cross country season.
There may also be a couple freshman that vie for a top 7 spot to the help the Raiders this fall.
Like always the expectations are high in Alliance, OH. With Ohio Northern being the overwhelming favorite this upcoming cross country season, the Raiders of Mount Union are aiming for a top two finish at the OAC meet and expect to get back to the National meet like they did in 2005 and 2006.
Leading the Raiders this fall will be senior Dustin Ford. Dustin is coming off his best cross season ever where he garnered All-Conference honors placing 4th, 16th at Regionals in a PR of 25:27 and in doing so qualifying himself individually for his third trip to Nationals in Northfield, MN. In Minnesota Dustin ran his 4th sub 26:00 minute 8k which was good enough for 115th place, his highest place at the National meet in his three years at Mount. Look for Dustin to pick up where he left off and be the leader of the Raiders pack this fall.
The Raiders return a plethora of talent expecting to compete for spots 2-7. Sophomore Ty Griffin is coming off a very strong campaign in both cross country and track where he showed his range earning All-Conference honors in all three seasons. That is impressive for anyone, let alone a freshman. There is no doubt Ty will be a key contributor for the Raiders this fall.
Junior's Bryce Basista and Dan Whisler are looking to give the Raiders much needed consistency this fall. Both have shown the potential of being top tier runners in the OAC. Last year Bryce placed 16th at the Conference meet, 43rd at Regionals, and as a freshman was 116th at Nationals. Dan has had impressive performances in both cross country and track. Last year he was a top 5 runner for much of the first half of the season highlighted by placing 2nd on the team at the Akron Invitational. Then he proceeded to place in both the 3k and 5k at the OAC Indoor Championship, and placed 4th place in a PR of 9:46 at the OAC Outdoor Championship. If Mount can get both of these guys running on full cylinders at the end of the season the question won't be whether or not they make it to Nationals, but how high can they place.
Sophomore Scott Wolfe hopes to take his success from the track onto the grass this fall. Although Scott may have fallen short of his own expectations last fall, he more than exceeded them this past spring. He improved dramatically in just his first year at Mount. A 17:00 and 10:00 high schooler, Scott ran 15:49 and 33:00 respectively this spring as a freshman. In fact, during the 10k at the All-Ohio outdoor meet his 8k split was well over 60 seconds faster than his PR in cross country. Scott has all the tools to help the Raiders reach all their goals this cross country season and beyond.
Senior Justin Meeson is looking to recover from a sub par cross country season last year where he was diagnosed with both asthma and mono. Justin fought through both issues courageously but was obviously not the same individual who placed 3rd in the 10k at the previous OAC outdoor meet. Justin has the talent, work ethic, experience, attitude, and leadership skills to get back on track and be a major contributor for the Raiders this fall.
Senior Matt Dieterich brings consistency and experience to the Raiders squad this fall. Matt has been a solid performer in the past three years at Mount and expectations are no different for his last year in the Raiders jersey. Matt made it onto the squad that ran at Regionals last year where he placed 6th on the team. This cross country season he plans on helping the Raiders make it back to Nationals.
The dark horse comes in the form of Junior Harrison Markel. The Ashtabula Edgewood product is very talented, but has been troubled with a thyroid condition that has made his first two years at Mount frustrating. His thyroid problem does not allow him to perform at a high level on a consistent basis. Talent is not the issue, as Harrison ran under 4:30 as a sophomore in high school and just last summer ran 26:32 at the Johnnycake Jog. If Harrison can find a way to combat this on going thyroid condition he will add another dimension for the Raiders this cross country season.
There may also be a couple freshman that vie for a top 7 spot to the help the Raiders this fall.
Like always the expectations are high in Alliance, OH. With Ohio Northern being the overwhelming favorite this upcoming cross country season, the Raiders of Mount Union are aiming for a top two finish at the OAC meet and expect to get back to the National meet like they did in 2005 and 2006.
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