The UDM women's cross country team will open the 2009 season on Saturday as Detroit makes the quick trek to Rochester to run in the Golden Grizzly Open, held on the Upper Fields on the Oakland University campus. The event starts at 9:30 a.m.

2009 Season Preview

An air of optimism surrounds the women's team after the Titans ran their first full-scoring squad at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships since 2004 last season. Nine runners return from that squad and with the addition of five freshmen, UDM is looking to continue its way up the Horizon League standings. 

“I think the team is ready to make the improvements that we have been trying to make the last few years,” said head coach Guy Murray. “We have a nice group of veterans returning and we have a number of freshmen that we believe can make an instant impact giving us a solid top five.” 

One of the veteran runners returning is Kristie Ferrans, a junior who was named the Titans' Rookie of the Year as a freshman and then the team's MVP last season. She led the Titans in four races last season, earning her 5k personal record with a 19:26 time at the Greater Louisville Classic. 

“Kristie is definitely the team leader for us,” said Murray. “She is a true runner who would be out there running even if she wasn't on the team. She trains hard and sets the tempo for everybody to follow.” 

Four seniors will also vie to stay in the line-up, but most importantly, the quartet will help guide the Titans' underclassmen. Chrissy Bieling, Jennifer DeFauw, Betea Gorzynska and Megan Miller have all been with Titans' cross country and track program for three years so their leadership will be their most important asset.

In particular, DeFauw has been the most accomplished runner since joining the team two years ago in what was her first career attempt in competing in cross country. Last season, she took home the Coaches Award after posting three career best performances during the season, including finishing as the top team runner on two occasions.

“Jen really came on strong in the middle of the season and I look for her to continue that upward trend and give us a good year,” said Murray. “She has come so far from a half-miler basketball player all the way to a cross country runner.”

Bieling earned a PR last season when she nearly ran under the 20:00 mark with a 20:04 at the Greater Louisville Classic, while Gorzynski has been a steady performer throughout her career. Miller has yet to run on the varsity seven in cross country, but she has scored for the Titans in the conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships. 

The four-member sophomore class is another reason Detroit believes it will climb up the conference standings. Kristina Arko was named the Titans Rookie of the Year after posting the team's best time for a newcomer with a 19:50 performance in her collegiate debut at the National Catholic Championships. Stephanie Rossman was a top five scorer in every race last season, while Kirstin Mooney was steady throughout the season. Rachel Hall is also back after redshirting as a freshman.

“Stephanie was pretty much our number two runner all last season,” said Murray. “Keeping Kristina healthy is the key for her as she started out great, but struggled at the end, while Kirstin has the potential to score for us and really showed a lot in her first season with us.”

Tressanique Hampton, Sarah Martinez, Katrina Oberski, Alexandria Vintevoghel and Katie Weishaar are the five rookies who will look to crack the Detroit line-up. Hampton and Weishaar are both coming off superb prep careers as distance runners in high school track, while Martinez, Oberski and Vintevoghel were all state cross country qualifiers in high school. 

“One of the biggest differences with the team this year is that we have a lot of true cross country runners, especially our freshmen, so having that really gives us a boost,” said Murray. 

“Right now Tressanique and Katie are battling some injuries so we need to get them healthy, but I feel that Sarah, Katrina and Alexandria should really be in our top 7, if not our top 5 this season.” 

While coach Murray serves as the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, he has really left the women's team under the guidance of third-year coach Emili Jackson, a move that he says is paying off everyday. 

“Emili has done a great job with the women since she has come aboard,” said Murray. “She has done a great job of making it a team atmosphere and environment, and now she has a number of athletes she recruited and the veterans are used to her system so I think it will all pay off with a great year.” 

On the docket for 2009 are the challenges at the National Catholic and Michigan Intercollegiate Championships, but one of the real highlights will be the Horizon League Championships hosted by Detroit in Kensington Metropark on Halloween. With that said, expectations for the year will also be raised. 

“Well with hosting the Horizon League Championship, I would love to really finish in the top three in front of our fans and alumni and move on to a great Regional finish,” said Murray. “One of our benchmarks is breaking 20:00 and last year we had four runners do that, just never in the same race. On paper we have five, six runners who can do that so if we can pull that off, regardless of where we finish in the race, we will have a great day and a successful year.”