Orange barrels can't slow women's cross country

KALAMAZOO - To say that everything went the way of the Wolverines in Saturday's Michigan Intercollegiate would be to stretch the truth.

Granted, the fifth-ranked Wolverines packed up the entire race and placed five of their runners among the top 10 overall finishers, en route to a 29-point team performance and the title of the state's best team.

In fact, about the only thing the Wolverines couldn't control was the construction on I-94, which affected their pre-race preparation.

"It gets you out of your routine a little bit," Michigan coach Mike McGuire said in reference to the team's late arrival. "Normally we get to a site an hour and 45 minutes before a race and we got here less than an hour before the race. So it affects a little bit of your preparation."

The runners felt the effects of the lengthy drive, as well.

"We were kind of flustered because of the drive," Allison Noe said. "We weren't acclimated (to the course) yet so some of our times could have been a lot faster."

Not that the team was complaining - perennial front-runner Katie McCregor added to a season full of accomplishments with a course-record time of 16:38.

"We were just going out there to compete," McGregor said.

McGregor separated from the pack at the mile mark and spent the rest of the race in cruise control while her teammates focused on keeping in a pack behind her and closing the time gap.

"It's not fun running up there all by yourself," McGregor said. "You try to remember that there are other runners behind you. It's mental."

McGregor was followed by Elizabeth Kampfe, who finished second overall, clocking an impressive 17:02. The rest of the top five was filled out by Michelle Slater (5th, 17:28), Lisa Ouellet (7th,17:34) and Katie Clifford (10th, 17:52).

Particularly encouraging to McGuire was the team's response to the season-ending stress fracture suffered by Katy Radkewich nearly two weeks ago.

"It's gonna be a committee effort," McGuire said. "Any time you take a talent like that out of your lineup you're still taking a hit. I feel worse for her plight then for ours because this is tough for her. We want to do everything we can to get her back and healthy so she can run at the level we all know she is capable of."

Two runners who performed especially well in Radkewich's absence were Marcy Akard and Lisa Ouellet.

"That was by far Marcy Akard's best race of the year," McGuire said. "She's really starting to catch fire. She's just gotta continue to train and race and it will come around for her."

After the announcement of the final results, the Wolverines turned their attention towards the Michigan Interregional which features many of the country's top teams and will be held on the Michigan Golf Course this Saturday.

"It's time to step it up a notch because it's coming down to crunch time," Slater said. "It's a different atmosphere than this and people get a bit more nervous."

"Mentally, we'll have to prepare on our own because there is going to be a lot better competition than this week," Noe said.

No stranger to big meet competition, McGuire realizes the importance of the remainder of the season.

"Our meet next week will really give us an idea of where we're at going into the playoffs as we call them; the last three meets of the season," McGuire said.

"We know it will be our sternest test to date and I think we'll respond to that."

But the Wolverines are already looking forward to Saturday's meet if for no other reason except location.

"I'm glad we're not traveling anywhere so that we won't have to worry about getting there," McGuire said.

10-12-98