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CLAREMORE, Okla. – As every member of the Rogers State women's cross country team is back on campus from a season ago, expectations continue to rise for sixth-year Head Coach
Chris McCormick and the Hillcats in 2015.
Bolstered by its biggest roster in program history, RSU will use that to its advantage heading into the season after the bar was set with a second-place finish at the 2014 Heartland Conference Championship.
"We've got a large and talented group, so our goal remains the same; to be in that top two or three at the conference meet and see how many all-conference kids we can get recognized," McCormick said. "We had a couple girls just outside that honor last year and that gave them a little fire during the offseason to make the jump into the top 12."
The Hillcats welcome the leadership from a pair of seniors to lead the program in 2015 behind
Maria Apolinar, back from a redshirt last season, and
Haley Taylor.
"A lot of the same faces that we are used to seeing on this team are back," McCormick mentioned. "I look for Maria and Haley to lead the way for this team because they both have a ton of experience and been all-conference in the past. They are excited to end their careers as Hillcats on a high note."
Two names RSU fans got to know well in 2014 are still on campus, but will not be competing for the navy and red this fall as
Christi Dougherty and
Ashtyn DeRoin are set to redshirt.
"We thought we were going to return everybody, but Christi, our team leader, is going to redshirt along with Ashtyn, who is coming off an injury," McCormick added.
The Hillcats have numerous options to fill in and take over the two available spots creating some friendly competition in practice where it will be a continuous battle throughout the campaign. Sustaining that group are several that earned valuable experience with quality showings at big meets last year, including the conference championship.
"We have a great junior trio of
Andi Gourd,
Olivia Jalomo, and
Hunter Thompson that are going to give us good depth this year," McCormick added. "
Hailey Gillispie,
Jocelyn Buckner,
Hannah Tobias, and
Mia Chavez as a redshirt, put together great freshmen seasons last year. It will be these girls that determine how successful we are as a team."
Added to the mix are three freshmen that get a chance to learn the ropes of collegiate athletics from a diverse group of returners.
Jessica Fairres,
Madeleine Kupec, and
Brianna Valles join the program for 2015, with Fairres and Valles taking redshirts in their first season on the Hill.
"Madeleine has really been impressive so far in this short preseason. She is someone that doesn't have a ton of experience, but has a lot of natural talent, and been working very hard. I think she can really jump up and contribute," McCormick said.
The prospect of having a roster with 17 student-athletes brings a new challenge to the Hillcats, but Coach McCormick sees it as a positive for the program moving forward.
"It's fun to coach such a large group that can all push each other," McCormick stated. "It changes the dynamic of the team when someone can have a bad race and someone else can fill their shoes. It gives us a lot more weapons from race to race. The quality of our day-to-day training is better having more girls to compete with and push each other."
RSU has a chance to showcase this talented group at six meets, all of which it has run in the past, including return trips to several high-profile events.
"Heading up to the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota will be a great environment and learning experience for our team to face some of the nation's best. We will get to show out at some of the meets like Missouri Southern and ultimately be ready to go for the conference championship," McCormick concluded.
The Hillcats get their first taste of competition during the 2015 season at a familiar place in Edmond, Oklahoma at the University of Central Oklahoma Land Run. The 5,000-meter race is set to begin at 8 a.m.
