FAYETTE, Mo. - The time has finally come.
Ever since winning last year's Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship, the Central Methodist women's cross country team knew they would have the opportunity to defend their title.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., they will attempt to do just that when the 2012 HAAC Cross Country Championships begin with the women's 5K race in Lamoni, Iowa.
The Eagles enter the race knowing that any one of five runners could lead the pack, an area where the Green and Black excelled in capturing the 2011 title. A runner-up finish by Katie Olvera set the stage for Central Methodist to win its first-ever conference championship. A run on places eight through 11 completed the winning team score of 40 as Amber Beaverson, Elise Schreiber, Taylor Beaverson and Tabatha Leaton crossed the line in that order.
Hailey Breusch has the fastest time of the year (19:07), with that coming at the NAIA MidStates Invitational. Schreiber was the team's top finisher at the Washington University Early Bird and has finished in the top three in every race.
Taylor Beaverson has the top 5K track time on the team. Amber Beaverson is the school record holder in the steeplechase and also has run a 19:16 this season.�
"I would not be surprised to see Amber be in the mix of the top five runners in the entire conference," coach Chris Sandefur said. "She is the leader of our group. The girls know she will do what it takes for us to win."
Tabatha Dickey has run a 19:22 this season and is the third senior returner from last year's championship run.
Freshman Emily Nealley could be the biggest surprise on Saturday.
"I would not be surprised to see her in the top 12 this weekend," Sandefur said of Nealley. "She is the top freshman in the conference. Emily is someone who has never ran cross country before.� She is one of the toughest runners I have coached."
Adriana Romero has great talent and could be the top runner on most teams in the HAAC.�
"She could have a breakthrough day (on Saturday) and put herself up in the top 15 and maybe higher," Sandefur commented. "She has pure speed and will be tough to beat in the last 200 meters of the race."
As for the biggest roadblock to Central Methodist's title defense, Sandefur believes Baker University will pose the biggest threat. The Eagles defeated the Wildcats by only 17 points in 2011.
The men's team will also enter the HAAC Championships looking to capture hardware and advance to the national championship on Saturday, Nov. 17, in Vancouver, Wash.
Led by Colby Lapresi and Cris Renteria,�the men's team is peaking at the right time.
Lapresi is trying to establish himself as one of the best distance runners in school history. He placed 22nd overall in the Washington University Early Bird after finishing the race in 20:14.
"He wants to be a national qualifier again," Sandefur noted. "He needs to just run a smart race this weekend and he will do so.
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Renteria has had an outstanding freshman season and is one of the top newcomers in the country. The Monett, Mo., native placed 10th in the Gary Stoner Invitational in a time of 25:56.10, passing Lapresi by one second for sixth on Central Methodist's all-time list.
Tyler Meierarend is another freshman expected to run well on Saturday. Meierarend finished 22nd in the Gary Stoner Invitational with a time of 26:48.
The men's 8K race begins at 11:45 a.m.
