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The Shawnee
State Men’s Cross Country Team is looking to return to the NAIA
National Championship after just missing a chance to go for the
5th straight season last year. With only three
returnees from last year’s squad and not a senior on the roster,
head coach Eric Putnam looks at a promising recruiting class to
make a big impact for Shawnee State.
“This team
is possibly the deepest and most talented team that we have ever
had at Shawnee State,” said Head Coach Eric Putnam. There are
11 new runners to the cross country roster this season.
Three
runners return from last year’s squad including junior Chris
Roush (Gallipolis, OH), who consistently ran in the top five
runners last season. Also returning are sophomores Joe Jinks
(Chillicothe, OH) and Tyler Hickey (Seaman, OH).
Seven
freshmen appear on the Shawnee State roster including Bryce
Eldridge (Chillicothe, OH), Justin Hornick (Johnstown, OH),
Chuck Wentz (Proctorville, OH), Michael Owen (Reedsville, OH),
Josh Linkous (South Webster, OH), Sam Ruhl (Mount Gilead, OH),
and Brian Truit (Batavia, OH). Linkous is a three-time
All-Ohioan in cross country. Eldridge, Hornick, Wentz, and Owen
each are state qualifiers in cross country. Other additions to
the team include junior Chris Peavey (Piketon, OH), and
Cincinnati transfer Keegan Rathkamp (Chillicothe, OH), and Rio
Grande transfers Corey Culbertson (Logan, OH) and Paul Webb
(Ontario, OH). Rathkamp, an All-Ohioan in track and cross
country, finished 3rd in the 1600 meter run with a
time of 4:17.
“This is
possibly the deepest and most talented team that we have ever
had at Shawnee State,” said Coach Putnam. “Our goal is to
finish in the top three again at the AMC Championship and to
qualify for the NAIA National Championship after just missing it
last year.”
The Bears
face a competitive schedule which begins at the Shawnee State
Invitational and includes the Loyola Invitational, Southeastern
Classic, All-Ohio Invitational, AMC/NAIA Region IX Championship,
and the NAIA National Championships at Kenosha, WI. |
