Huskers Aim to Continue Climb in the Big 12

Although the Nebraska women’s cross country team must replace 2005 NCAA All-American Kayte Tranel, the Huskers have the potential for one of its strongest women’s teams in recent memory.

The Huskers, a solid fifth-place finisher in the powerful Big 12 Conference, return six letterwinners from the 2005 squad that added a fifth-place NCAA Midwest Regional finish.

Nebraska’s young and talented roster will be contending for a trip to the 2006 NCAA Championships and climbing up the Big 12 ladder.

"With six returning letter winners, if we can stay healthy, who knows how high we can finish?" Nebraska Coach Jay Dirksen said. "This is probably the best team we’ve had in recent years and definitely better than the previous few. We are very excited about where last year’s returnees could take us, and with a good summer of training everyone is really excited to get going."

In order to reach new heights in 2006, the Huskers will look for leadership from senior Kim Pancoast. The Cape Girardeau, Mo., native was elected a co-captain, only the fifth Husker to serve as a team captain two times.

Pancoast will share captain duties with junior Betsy Miller, who came on strong at the end of last season by setting a personal-best 6K time of 22:42 at the Big 12 Championships. The performance capped a two-year run in which she made dramatic improvements. For her efforts, Miller was named Nebraska’s Most Impoved Runner in 2005.

"Kim and Betsy are two excellent people," Dirksen said. "They love to run and are good role models with great work ethics. Betsy was a big surprise last year. If Kim can stay healthy this season, I think she can be one of the best runners in the Big 12 Conference."

Along with the veteran leadership provided by Pancoast and Miller, a talented core of young runners will bolster Nebraska’s lineup.

Leading the way will be sophomore Ari Goldstein, who had a highly successful freshman campaign. Goldstein earned All-Midwest Region honors by placing 10th at the 2005 NCAA Midwest Regional - just one place away from qualifying for the NCAA Championships. She was the Huskers’ second finisher in four meets and never finished lower than third among the Huskers.

Goldstein’s 17th-place finish at the Big 12 Championships marked the best showing by a Nebraska freshman since 1998.

"Ari had a tremendous freshman year," Dirksen said. "To just miss the NCAA Championships by one place your first year is very impressive. I think that will springboard her into this season."

Fellow sophomore Natalja Zarcenko was nearly as impressive in her first year at Nebraska. The Latvian trimmed nearly three minutes off her 5K time during the first month of competition. In her fourth meet, she finished as NU’s No. 4 runner with a 14th-place overall finish at the South Dakota State Invitational. She went on to finish 32nd at the 2005 Big 12 Championships.

"Natalja could be the most-improved runner on this year’s team," Dirksen said. "She has great ability and I think she will really click this season after being in the system for a year."

Junior Channing Anseth also had a strong ending to her 2005 season. Competing in only her second meet of the year, the Lincoln native finished just ahead of Zarcenko with a 28th-place showing at the Big 12 Championships, as NU’s No. 3 finisher.

Anseth’s late-season cross country success continued into the indoor track season, when she placed fifth (16:38) in the 5,000 meters at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

"Channing showed signs of becoming an outstanding runner during the indoor track season," Dirksen said. "Her fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships was tremendous, so we are also looking for big improvements from her this season."

Along with the return of four of their top five runners from a year, the Huskers could also be bolstered by the return of talented junior Joslyn Dalton.

Dalton was slowed by injuries in 2005, but has shown signs of making a full recovery during the summer. She has worked on her strength during the offseason and will enter the fall in the best shape of her collegiate career.

"Joslyn finally had a chance to sit down and get things right this summer," Dirksen said. "She is at a whole new level. I think we’ll see the real Joslyn Dalton this season."

In addition to the talent at the top of Nebraska’s lineup, the Huskers will also have better depth in 2006. Sophomores Rachel Carrizales, Jennifer Pancoast, Sara Prince and Jennifer Fritz are all hoping to contribute this year.

"We expect some significant improvements from this group to make an impact this season," Dirksen said. "Not only do we have a solid six runners, but we have another group with great potential. I think at least one person from this group will come out and have a great year."

Prince showed promise as a true freshman, despite competing in just one meet. At the Creighton/UNO Classic, Prince was Nebraska’s No. 5 finisher before suffering an injury that kept her out the rest of the season. She has applied for a medical hardship.

Carrizales competed in every regular-season meet, while Jennifer Pancoast missed just one race. Junior Val Zajac also returns for the Huskers and will add even more depth to the team.

The Huskers also added Adrienne Parry, a transfer from Colorado State and Elizabeth Marsh, the lone freshman on the roster.

Nebraska will face some of the nation’s best competition during the regular season to prepare for the championship phase of the season.

The Huskers open the season this weekend at the Creighton/Nebraska-Omaha Classic on Sept. 2, before hosting the 17th annual Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational at Pioneer’s Park on Sept. 16. NU will continue its season at the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 23, before heading to Brookings, S.D., for the South Dakota State Classic on Sept. 30.

Nebraska will take a weekend off to prepare for the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., Oct. 14, before focusing on the Big 12 Championships in Lawrence, Kan., on Oct. 27. The NCAA Midwest Regional will be held in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 11, before the season concludes with the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 20.