General harriers hope to turn strong start into a strong finish

  • brian questel
  • August 8, 2012
  • 386
                        
081312 WHSgirlsCCpreseason Promo: Season holds promise for Wooster High boy’s cross country team General harriers hope to turn strong start into a strong finish By Brian Questel The Wooster High boy’s cross country team has been in contention for the Ohio Cardinal Conference title every year of the conference’s existence and Wooster High coach Doug Bennett is hoping that this year is no exception. The Generals were third a year ago, just 11 points away from a team title behind Ashland and Lexington, and the veteran coach has liked what he’s seen in the opening days of the season. “I am encouraged,” said the veteran coach. “We have a good-sized team with 29 boys out and it seems most of them have a pretty good level of fitness. They have done their homework this summer. They have jumped in and picked up the workouts where they ought to be and they have a nice positive attitude.” That potential will have to develop as the Generals will have to replace a trio of runners, including Cody Neidig, who is currently running at the University of Cincinati. “We lost some fine runners in Cody Neidig, Ian Parry and Brock Berlin,” said Bennett. “They were great to have around and hard workers. They were mainstays for us last year. We have two promising runners coming back in Kevin White and Zach Humrichouser, and actually a third in Kalten Walter. They were solid last year and all-league guys – all three were second-team OCC. “Paul Wood is also a returning letter winner. He had good summer of training and is running strong, plus he’s grown. Zach Buchholz is not a returning letter winner, but he’s shown a lot of promise and put in a lot of time. He did what he was supposed to do. “Zac Carmel and Drew Wigham will also be contributors,” said Bennett. “Troy Chipka is another guy to see if he steps up and Jon Patterson is another one we’re looking for to be a contributor as a senior and fourth-year guy.” For any team to make a move in the fall depends on the amount of work done since the first of June when school ended. That is something the group did. “It’s clear to me the kids have worked hard and we have a good corps of guys with a level of fitness,” said Bennett. “I’m not hearing about any aches and pains. We did a 6-mile run Monday and counted seven miles today (Aug. 7) with three tours around the college course on hills, and we did that on a tempo or threshold effort. “I don’t know our team goals right now. It’s early. We’re just trying to get better every day.” White was a regional qualifier along with Neidig last year and he returns with the team’s second-beat time from a year ago, a 17:14 at the Wayne-Holmes meet during less-than-ideal running conditions and “guys were just not able to run that fast.” “Zach has our best (returning) time with a 17:10 and Kalten had a 17:46 at OCC’s on a course from hell at Lexington with 30 mph winds,” said Bennett. “Paul had an 18:15 for his best time, Drew had an 18:56, Zac Carmel’s was an 19:17, Zach Buchholz 19:46 and Jon’s best was 19:43. “That puts us nine deep between the low 17s and low 19s and that’s something you can work with. I think this is a much stronger team overall and more sure of themselves.” Wooster opens its season at Mapleton Aug. 20.


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