Cross Country runs away with victory

Nov. 18, 2004
By Dan Tomlin
Sports Editor

During the 1990’s the Fighting Bees and Queen Bees dominated the Cross Country scene in the Midwest Classic Conference, and in the NAIA Region VII.

From 1991-1999 only once did both teams not capture their conference championship (1998 women).

After a five-year hiatus, the future is now for the Queen Bees cross-country team who captured their first conference title of the twenty-first century as well as placing second overall in the region.

To cap this extraordinary season, freshman Mollie Fisher qualified to advance on to the National Championships being held at the University of Louisville on Nov. 20.

For Fisher, head coach Dan Zeimet had an inkling that success could come early.

“I knew she had talent but I didn’t know to what extent,” Zeimet said. “It came to light for me after I saw how much she ran over the summer. There were a lot of pleasant surprises on the team this year.”

Other accolades the women received included All-Conference awards to Ashleigh Johnson, Jessica Olsen, and senior captain Jenny Frels.

In just his second year at the helm of the St. Ambrose cross country teams, Coach Dan Zeimet, a former Fighting Bee harrier himself has been eagerly awaiting the day when once again SAU would be a force to be reckoned with.

“You have to know some of the history of the program and take pride in it,” Zeimet said. “I’m proud of everyone giving 110%, and going into the season the hopes of a conference title was definitely a reachable goal.”

For the men, the season ended with a second place finish in conference and a fourth place finish in the region.

The Bees were led by All-Conference and All-Region senior captain Zeb Gilliam. Also receiving All-Conference recognition were Jeremiah Costello and Mitch Hansen.

The women’s success, says Ziemet is directly proportional to their ability.
“The success is consistent with the size of the squad,” Zeimet said of the 15-woman team.

“The women were a little deeper and had more flexibility with our 5-10 runners. With the men you had to expect the same five guys to come through every meet.”

For the Bees the future looks bright as the women lose senior captains Frels, Suzy Woods, and Season Brooks, but return a core that could replicate this feat for a number of years to come.

The men will lose senior captain Zeb Gilliam, but return four of the top five runners.

After a successful season and a quick rise back to the top of the heap in the MCC Zeimet is finding it easier to recruit and has what would’ve seemed to be lofty goals in previous years seem likely to his runners.

“We know we have to more aggressively recruit, especially on the men’s side, but both teams should be going to nationals soon,” Zeimet said. “You have to set the bar to the point where we’re consistently a national qualifier.

As for gaining recognition as the 2004 MCC Women’s Coach of the Year, Zeimet stays modest and credits the team.

“It’s amazing how talented athletes make you look like a good coach,” Zeimet said. “I like being a part of and seeing improvement throughout the year.”

With a couple more years similar to this one Zeimet may end up looking like a good coach for a long time.

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