Sept. 26, 2002

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University cross country teams will race at Buhr Park in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the second time this season. The Falcons of head coach Cami Wells will compete in the Central Collegiate Championships, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, Friday afternoon (Sept. 27).

The women's 5K race is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m., followed by the men's 8K race at 5:00 p.m. and a 5K open race at 6:00 p.m. The Central Collegiates mark the first action for the Falcons in nearly two weeks, since the Sept. 14 Mel Brodt Invitational.

Several Mid-American Conference schools are expected to compete at the meet, including Ohio, Western Michigan, Central Michigan (women only) and host EMU in addition to the Falcons.

"We will be running a full men's squad," said Wells. "The men are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing home meet and be more aggressive out there on Friday. It is important for us to really work together as a team and close up the gaps between runners.

"Mario (Rothmund) is doing a nice job of leading the team in races; now we just need to get the rest of the pack up there closer to him.

"On the women's side, Briana Killian is questionable for Friday's race. Briana is recovering from bronchitis, so I may hold her out until next week at Notre Dame.

"We will have Nicola Viljoen back this week, and everyone else is healthy going into the meet. Both the men and women raced on this course earlier this season (EMU Open, Aug. 31), so they are familiar with it and looking to improve upon their performances last month.

Having a week off from competition allowed us to get some good training runs in, and get focused for the upcoming competitions. This weekend starts a series of four straight weeks of meets that we will use to prepare for our major competitions at the end of the season, the Mid American Conference meet and the regional meet."

Following Friday's race, BGSU will compete in the Notre Dame Invitational (Oct. 4), the All Ohio Championships (Oct. 11) and the Auburn Invitational (Oct. 19) prior to the MAC meet on Nov. 2.

DIRECTIONS TO BUHR PARK:
(From Bowling Green:) Take I-75 North to I-475 (follow signs to Ann Arbor); I-475 becomes 23 North; take 23N to Washtenaw East exit (toward Ypsilanti); turn right off the exit, and then make a right on Carpenter; take Carpenter to Packard; turn right on Packard, and Buhr Park will be on the right.