The 2004 Women’s Cross Country team rose the challenge and had its most successful season in school history.  The Bears had a record 93 wins, captured the Winthrop University Invitational, finished 5^th at the American Mid-East Conference Cross Country Championships, and 5^th at the NAIA Region IX Cross Country Championships.  Along the way, they recorded 14 of the 25 fastest times ever run at SSU.  Freshman Star Emmert became the second SSU women's runner to qualify for the NAIA National Cross Country Championship Meet. 

The 2005 eleven meet schedule is very demanding.  The schedule opens with the 7^th Annual Shawnee State University Invitational and includes the Centre College Invitational, the Winthrop University Invitational, the Greater Louisville Classic Invitational, the Rio Grande Invitational, the All-Ohio Invitational, the Wilmington College Fall Classic, the Southeastern Classic, the AMC and NAIA Region IX Championships at Shawnee State University, and the NAIA National Cross Country Championships at Louisville, KY.  “We will race some of the very best teams in the country,” said Coach Mangus. 

Eight runners return from last year’s squad.  The three seniors are Captains Jennifer Henman (Springfield, OH), Kristyn Allen (South Lebanon, OH), and Ashley Meadows (Athens, OH).  Henman and Allen each holds one of the top 25 fastest times.  Allen was the first SSU runner to become an All AMC and All NAIA scholar athlete.  Candice Eagon (Struthers, OH) returns for her junior season.  Eagon holds three spots on the top 25 list.   

Returning for their sophomores seasons are Trisha Krueger (Versailles, OH), Star Emmert (Wellston, OH), Jenn Liming (Guysville, OH), and Amanda Faulkner (Kingston, OH).  Krueger holds eight top 25 times including a 19:11 the fastest ever time by a SSU runner at the Winthrop University Invitational where she was meet champion.  Emmert holds six top 25 times and became the first SSU runner to win All Conference honors and the 2^nd to qualify for the NAIA National Cross Country Championship. 

New to the squad are five outstanding freshmen runners.  Kaylene Baker (Newark, OH), Amber Hosier (Springfield, OH), Ashley McCray (Waverly, OH), Allie Voorhees (Springfield, OH), and Heather Waugh (New Boston, OH).  Baker, Hosier, McCray, and Waugh were the #1 runners on their high school cross country teams, and with Voorhees acquiring many league, conference, district, and regionals awards, they have a tremendous potential and definitely will bring strong depth to the team.  

“This is the strongest women’s cross country team that we have ever had at Shawnee State and I expect many records to fall again this year,” said Mangus.  “Our new recruits have great talent and our returning runners had a great year and have been working hard to get ready for the challenges of the upcoming season.  Our expectations are high.  I truly believe we have an opportunity to get at least several individuals and respectfully the entire team to the National Meet.  They are ready to FLY!!”