Bison Prepare for Successful Season

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist Men's Cross Country finished fourth last year in the NCCAA. It was a good season overall, but Coach Mark Heard is anticipating this season will be stronger.
 
Regarding last year, Heard said, "I feel like the guys worked real hard and they got better, but we had a couple injuries that kept us from doing our best."
 
There are only four returning athletes this year, partially due to injuries last year. The squad is completed with the addition of four freshmen.
 
"Main goal number one is to stay healthy. Goal number two is to be a cohesive group," Heard said. "Ultimately at the end of the season, our team goal is to finish in the top three at the GAC Championship, and from there go on to the NCAA Regional Championship meet. This will be the first time in school history that our program will be part of that process, so our goal at the Regional Championship is to have a good showing."
 
Among the returners are two juniors and two sophomores.
 
"Jacob Janzen, our top guy coming back, has had a really outstanding summer of training," Heard said. "He was an All-American in the NCCAA 10km and was also All-Conference in Cross Country at GAC last year. Garret Elmore is a redshirt freshman. He ran track last year and finished fifth in the 1500 NCCAA Championship meet, but had to sit out in cross country because he had damaged his knee last summer. He might be the sleeper that no one is counting on, but I'm getting excited about him."
 
"DeAngelo Robles was almost Freshman of the Year in cross country at GAC, only beat out by one second," Heard said. "He really helped us out a lot. Nathan Crowson is more of a track guy, but he's come in this year with a lot more cross country fitness. I think he's looking forward to running cross country and making a contribution this year, he's worked hard this summer to make that happen."
 
Heard noted that any of the freshman have a shot at being GAC Freshman of the Year.
 
"All four of them have a potential to make a great impact on our team as our whole," Heard said. "Patrick Harris comes in with the best statistics from high school, running a 15:58 5km, 4:24 mile and 9:35 two-mile."
 
There is a good returning core and some strong additions.