The growing pains may subside in sophomore season
Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.
Dec. 6, 1995
By Devlyn Brooks
The BSU women's cross-country team is officially one season old.
And, if this season is any kind of indicator, the team could have a bright future.
According to head coach Karen Ladig, the team was successful for several reasons this season.
First, BSU garnered a large team. "We had 11 women running on the team," Ladig said, "which was as big, if not bigger, than other teams in the conference."
Second, Ladig said, that each athlete improved their time in the 5K, which is the event in which women compete in collegiate cross-country.
And third, other coaches in BSU's conference congratulated Ladig on the fact that BSU fielded such a large team and for competing so well in their first year.
"People are happy to see Bemidji have a team again," Ladig said.
In competition, the team placed third at the Moorhead State Invitational, 10th at the University of North Dakota Invitational and fourth out of five conference teams at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Ladig said one problem the team encountered this year was that "everything was new to (them)." She said the team did not know what to expect because only one member of the team had ever competed on the collegiate level before. That was sophomore Jessie Hartman who transferred from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
"We knew that we would be building a base for a good team in two or three years," Ladig said. "What we learned is that we will have to pick up even more speed."
As a second-year team, Ladig said they will need to have more focused training, and they will need to try to recruit some new freshmen to replace the graduating seniors. She said that just the fact that the team will know what to expect in a meet will be an asset.
"We're not expecting big jumps in being able to compete, but we will increase steadily," Ladig said. "I think (the team) will expect more out of themselves, especially the experienced runners."
Junior Jody Lawrence, one of next year's team leaders, said she feels the team needs to work harder on finishing better at conference meets. However, she said she thinks that if the team can be infused with some new freshmen, they will be "really good." She also said that one of the team's goals for next year is to fair better against conference teams.
Ladig said that the team has plenty to look forward to next season also. Lawrence and Wendy Larson, both juniors, will provide strong leadership for the team, she said.
"They'll step in and be real strong," she said. "They'll be real positive models for the team."
BSU also will host two cross-country meets next year. One being the NSIC conference meet and an additional meet that will be held several weeks prior to the conference meet.
Ladig said that it might be a few years before BSU is a top conference team because it takes a while to build experience as a long distance runner. However, in a few years, neighboring teams just might be hearing BSU's cross-country team knocking on the door.
"The experience of running cross-country is really varied," Ladig said. "You can't just go out there and expect to win. It takes experience to be a good runner."
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