ONU season preview: Women's Cross Country sets sights on school record
After winning back-to-back Ohio Athletic Conference Championships the past two years, one could wonder what's left for motivation for the Ohio Northern women's cross country team heading into the 2012 campaign.
How about setting a school record with a third straight league title for starters?
"We have never won three straight OAC titles and that's our goal this year," fourth-year head coach Jason Maus said. "It will be a difficult task, as we lost a big part of last year's team to graduation. But we have a strong nucleus of returners and are very much looking forward to the season."
Maus returns five letterwinners from the 2011 squad that set a school record with a 133-28 record, won the OAC title, finished second at the NCAA III Regionals and placed 19th at the NCAA III Championships.
The Polar Bears were ranked as high as No. 17 nationally last fall.
The cupboard is hardly bare, as two All-Conference honorees return.
Leading the list of returners is senior three-time OAC Champion and two-time All-American Alison Steinbrunner.
Steinbrunner looks to complete her re-writing of the ONU record books, as she already owns the 5,000 and 6,000-meter school records and the records for freshmen, sophomores and juniors at each distance.
Senior Lydia Weaver earned First Team All-OAC honors by finishing sixth at the OAC Championships last fall.
Senior Sarah Turley, junior Brooke Larsen and sophomore Samantha Hoffman also return after earning letters last season.
'I am really looking forward to coaching this team," Maus said. "They are a hard-working group that accepts coaching and just wants to get better and succeed. They have a great attitude and came into training camp ready to go."
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Bulldog softball upset by Delphos Jefferson
- Bulldog baseball edged by Jefferson
- Bulldog boys and girls 2nd at Bloomdale track tri-meet
- ONU classed as "lower access, higher earnings" institution
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers
- Ohio High School All-State Honors Band and the ONU Symphonic Band perform May 4
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- William Douglas Burris worked for Rockwell International
- Beatitudes style show proves thrift can be fashionable
- Bulldog softball rallies for win vs. Falcons
- Bulldog baseball loss vs. Falcons
- Bulldogs compete in Ada JH track invitational
- Bulldog tennis loss vs. Bluffton
- Letter: The benefits of vaccinating newborns and children
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Anabel R. McBride worked for Ada Exempted Village Schools
- Trash to Treasure STEAM program on May 3
- Student entrepreneurs compete in 2025 Polar Innovation Exchange
- Lifesaving AED installed at One More gym on E. Buckeye
- St. Mark Community Meal is April 30
- Alfes wins Medalist honors at OAC golf championships
- Wilma A. Willeke worked at Ohio Northern