Pioneers ready to roll at cross country nationals

Heading into Saturday's NAIA Championships to be held for the first time in Charlotte, N.C., the Wayland Baptist men's and women's cross country teams are looking forward to a strong showing.
               
The No. 13-ranked men's team will carry six runners – junior and defending champion Benard Keter, sophomores Jason Rowe and Randall Borden, and freshmen Bobby Childers, Raul Almaraz and Christian Garcia – with hopes of finishing a bit higher than they are ranked.
 
"We're hoping to be top 10," Coach Brian Whitlock said. "Finishing higher than what you're ranked is the goal."
 
Keter, meanwhile, is looking to repeat as NAIA champion, having won last year in Lawrence, Kan., with an 8-kilometer time of 24 minutes, 36.40 seconds.
 
"The competition is a little tougher this year," Whitlock said. "I think we have a good strategy in place. If he'll execute it, then he will have a good shot at winning." 
 
Of course Wayland's other five runners also are important if the Pioneers are to achieve their top-10 goal.
 
"We need to finish in a good pack," Whitlock said. "We can't have huge gaps in between the second and fifth runners."
 
One of those runners, Almaraz, is recovering from an injury suffered while running in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships two weeks ago after he lost his shoe and ran for more than three miles without it. Whitlock is confident that he can still compete well on Saturday.
 
"He's a tough kid, which was evident in his finish," the coach said. "He'll give me what he has."
 
On the women's side, sophomore April Padilla is returning to nationals for the second straight season and Jackline Jemeli is going to her first after both finished in the top 10 at the SAC Championships.
 
Whitlock expects great times from both runners.
 
"(April) needs to run a faster time than she did as freshman," he said. "I'm hoping (Jackline) can be an all-American."
 
Overall, Whitlock is determined that his team will give its all.
 
"Everybody else is feeling good and we've had a good two weeks of practice," he said. "I think we're ready to go. We're not going to make any excuses. We're expecting to go down there and have a good performance."
 
The men's race, made up of 36 teams and 85 individuals, will begin at 9:30 a.m. CST and be followed by the women's 5K race, featuring 36 teams and 86 individuals, at 10:30 a.m.
 
Fans will be able to view a highlight show no later than noon CST on Sunday, Nov. 22, at www.naianetwork.com.