2008 Woodie Awards
Schaffhouser, men off to NCAAs
John Borgolini
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 11/20/08 at 6:10 PM EST
Last update: 11/20/08 at 6:08 PM EST
The Plattsburgh State women's cross country team wasn't able to advance to nationals, but its top runner, junior Jennifer Schaffhouser, and the men's team will be competing at the NCAA Division III National Championship meet tomorrow in Hanover, Ind.
Although the women didn't make it to the meet as a team, sophomore Krystal Yernye is still pleased with how things went for the team this season.
"Our season was phenomenal," Yernye said. "We weren't expected to do how well we did. We lost five of our top seven from last year. No one expected much from us, but we blindsided them."
Yernye was also proud of the team's performance in last week's Atlantic Regional meet.
"We ended (up) placing sixth at regionals - a mere three points from making nationals," she said. "All the girls put everything into it, and we did our best. Nationals would have been icing on top of the cake, but we're bringing it back for next year. Next year is our year, for both teams."
Yernye said she is dedicated to getting the women's team to nationals in the final two years she has at PSUC. She said this season was great for the team because it was successful and gives the team a goal for next year.
The men's team finished fifth at the Atlantic Regional meet last Saturday which earned the team a spot in nationals.
"When we found out that we were selected to go to nationals, our mindset changed because it isn't like any other race we have been in all season," sophomore Mike Heymann said. "We set a team goal of a top-25 finish at nationals."
Heymann said the team realizes it needs to run its best race of the season.
"We need to get our top five in as fast as possible and have as small of a gap as possible," he said. "The fewer runners in between our one and five runners, the better our score will be."
Head Coach John Lynch said the team is looking to beat some teams since PSUC was one of the last teams invited.
"I'm not going to put a ceiling on what we can do or put an unreachable goal out there," Lynch said. "I just want to upset some teams."
Heymann said the men's team is happy to make it this far, but that the runners know they are far from finished.
"We are satisfied with how we have done this season, but we need to stay focused and finish out the season strong," he said. "We need to show up to the meet and show the rest of the nation that we are the national caliber team that we know we are."
Lynch added: "I am happy with making it this far, but never satisfied. I think we need to prove that we belong at this level so that next year, when we return everyone, we can make a run at some of the big name teams that are always in the top 10."
Although the women didn't make it to the meet as a team, sophomore Krystal Yernye is still pleased with how things went for the team this season.
"Our season was phenomenal," Yernye said. "We weren't expected to do how well we did. We lost five of our top seven from last year. No one expected much from us, but we blindsided them."
Yernye was also proud of the team's performance in last week's Atlantic Regional meet.
"We ended (up) placing sixth at regionals - a mere three points from making nationals," she said. "All the girls put everything into it, and we did our best. Nationals would have been icing on top of the cake, but we're bringing it back for next year. Next year is our year, for both teams."
Yernye said she is dedicated to getting the women's team to nationals in the final two years she has at PSUC. She said this season was great for the team because it was successful and gives the team a goal for next year.
The men's team finished fifth at the Atlantic Regional meet last Saturday which earned the team a spot in nationals.
"When we found out that we were selected to go to nationals, our mindset changed because it isn't like any other race we have been in all season," sophomore Mike Heymann said. "We set a team goal of a top-25 finish at nationals."
Heymann said the team realizes it needs to run its best race of the season.
"We need to get our top five in as fast as possible and have as small of a gap as possible," he said. "The fewer runners in between our one and five runners, the better our score will be."
Head Coach John Lynch said the team is looking to beat some teams since PSUC was one of the last teams invited.
"I'm not going to put a ceiling on what we can do or put an unreachable goal out there," Lynch said. "I just want to upset some teams."
Heymann said the men's team is happy to make it this far, but that the runners know they are far from finished.
"We are satisfied with how we have done this season, but we need to stay focused and finish out the season strong," he said. "We need to show up to the meet and show the rest of the nation that we are the national caliber team that we know we are."
Lynch added: "I am happy with making it this far, but never satisfied. I think we need to prove that we belong at this level so that next year, when we return everyone, we can make a run at some of the big name teams that are always in the top 10."
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