Sept. 13, 2004

Contact: David Barry

SETTING THE SCENE: Forced to run without a full team of competitors because of an injury to junior Jennifer Ricica, the Cleveland State women's cross country team opended its season Saturday at the Mel Brodt Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio. Ricica's absence forced Cleveland State to run with just four runners, eliminating them from placing in the team competition. Senior Julene Nickoloff recorded the best time for the Vikings with a 22:05 over the 5,000 meter course to place 61st. Vanessa Anna and Shilah Pratt finished behind her at 24:16 and 24:43 respectively, while Marlene Przykling turned in a 27:40.

HAD TO GET A COACH: Allison Had, a former standout runner at Arizona State University and a native of northeast Ohio, will take over this season as the head women's cross country coach at Cleveland State University. After graduating from Arizona State in 1998, Had worked for one year as assistant cross country coach and women's athletic recruiter at Scottsdale Community College. In 1999, she moved to Charlotte, N.C. to take over as aquatics director for the central branch of the YMCA, a position she held for two years. Had returned to Northeast Ohio in June of 2000 to become marketing director for the Wild Oats Community Market in Woodmere, Ohio. She began teaching in the fall of 2001 at St. Gregory the Great School in South Euclid, a position she held for two years before moving to S.S. Peter and Paul in 2003. She has competed in five marathons all over the world, and was a standout runner at Kenston High School, Flagler College, and Arizona State. Had also started the Cleveland Triathlon Club, growing it to over 250 current members.

NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP: The Vikings will look to rebound from the '03 season, a year which saw the the team finish last in every event except one. Cleveland State finished 9th in the Horizon League Championship, with Shariah Pratt registering the top finish at 63rd with a 22:26.29.

UP NEXT: The Vikings travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets on Saturday.