1999 Women's Cross Country Outlook

Lincoln -- Things are not always what they seem. The Husker women's cross country team finished seventh in the Big 12 and fourth in the NCAA Midwest Regional, which seems like an unsuccessful season. However, these facts take on new meaning, when one realizes that the top seven teams in the conference and top five in the region all qualified for the 31-team NCAA Championships.

The Huskers began the season with their work cut out for them as they compete in one of the toughest conferences and regions in the nation. A 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Championships marked the 10th time in the last 12 years that the Husker women have qualified for the national meet. Despite winning only the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational during the regular season, the women lost to only one team that did not qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Senior Jaime Pauli returns for her final year of competition as the team captain. Pauli is a strong competitor and has progressed to the point where she will be among the top runners in each meet this fall. After a stellar freshman debut, Jeannette Zimmer was the Huskers' No. 1 runner in each meet last season, including a 12th-place finish in the Big 12, 11th in the NCAA Region and 70th in the NCAA Championships.

The Huskers will also count on returning letterwinners to help bring a conference crown to Lincoln. Senior Melinda (Mohr) Oliver and juniors Amie Finkner and Deb Osteen have made improvements from last season, and with their previous championship experience will aid in leading the team this season.

Others returning to contend for the top-seven team includes sophomores Jenna Lucas, who was voted the 1998 Most Improved Runner, and Steph Stewart. After rigorous summer training, both women have shown improvement from their freshman seasons.

Michelle Brooks (Preston, England) joins the Husker squad as a graduate student-athlete as the top newcomer. Brooks is a two-time British junior cross country team member. Brooks brings a wealth of international experience to Lincoln, and could be the front runner to turn this team into a top contender at both the conference and national levels.

Another harrier bringing international experience to the squad is Mirjana Glisovic(Gornji Milanovac, Yugoslavia), a transfer freshman from Yugoslovia. Glisovic, along with Brooks, should help the team contend for Big 12 honors.

Jaimie Kruger (Pierce, Neb.), a junior transfer from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, may surprise many this season. Kruger was the No. 1 runner at Nebraska-Kearney her first two seasons and has improved to a level where she could make contributions to the team this fall.

The Huskers add three more to the roster this season. Melissa Drozda (Omaha, Neb.), Kathryn Handrup (Aurora, Neb.) and Christy Linnell (Papillion, Neb.) will increase the Husker depth and quality of the 1999 team. Handrup was the Class B cross country champion in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Injuries slowed her down during the 1998-99 season, and she began training again in mid-July. When Handrup returns to racing shape, she has the potential to become a strong contender as a top-five runner for the Huskers. Drozda and Linnell both show promise making the transition from high school to collegiate running.

The Nebraska women certainly are capable of being one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference, the strongest distance running conference in the nation. Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas will challenge Nebraska for the top spots in the conference. In the NCAA Midwest Region meet expect Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma State to be among the chief challengers along with the Huskers for the two automatic qualifying spots to the NCAA Championships.

With strong front running by Brooks, Glisovic, Pauli and Zimmer, support from the rest of the Huskers, and avoidance of injury and illness, this could be a very strong team by the end of the season. The chances for the women to make their 11th appearance in 13 years looks promising.