NEBRASKA · Anthony Pittman So. Omaha, Neb. (Millard West) Alney Tobias RFr. Troy, N.Y....

2 0 1 1 N E B R A S K A C R O S S C O U N T R Y

Nebraska Media Relations | One Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Neb. 68588 | Phone: 402-472-2263 | Fax: 402-472-2005MRD: BreAnna Haessler | Office Phone: 402-472-7778 | Cell Phone: 402-499-3612 | email: [email protected]

Where to Catch the Huskers This Week...Meet - South Dakota State University ClassicWhere - Edgebrook Golf CourseWomen’s Race - 6000 m, 10:00 a.m.Men’s Race - 8000 m, 9:20 a.m.

Competing Huskers...

Huskers Head to Dirksen’s Alma Mater... The Nebraska cross country team heads out of state for the first time this season. They will head north for the South Dakota State University Classic on Saturday at Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings, S.D. Nebraska head coach Jay Dirksen began his coaching career as the head men’s cross country and track and field coach at his alma mater, South Dakota State, in 1969. In 1975, Dirksen started the women’s cross country program at South Dakota State. He coached six NCAA Division II champions and 34 NCAA Division II All-Americans during his eight years at South Dakota State. His 1973 Jackrabbit men’s cross country team won the NCAA Division II Cross Country championship. Dirksen will travel back to South Dakota State for the last time this weekend as the head coach for the HuskersThe Husker men will be first up at 9:20 a.m. as they take on the 8K course. On the men’s side, nine teams (and alumni) will run in the SDSU Classic: Northern Iowa, North Dakota, MN State Mankato, MN State Moorhead, Wayne State, Mount Mary, Midland Lutheran, University of Sioux Falls, SDSU and SDSU Alumni. The Huskers biggest competition will be nationally ranked division I Minnesota (20th). Following the men’s race, the Husker women will then take to the course at 10 a.m. for the 5,000 meter race. Ranked eighth in the regional team rankings entering Saturday, The Huskers will take on ten teams Minnesota, Northern Iowa, North Dakota, MN State Moorhead, Wayne State, Minnesota Duluth, Mount Mary, Midland Lutheran, SDSU and University of Sioux Falls. Along with the men the women’s biggest competition will be nationally ranked division I Minnesota (21st). Awards will be handed out at 10:45 a.m. to the first 15 finishers and the top three finishers from NAIA schools (who are not in the top 15).

2011 Nebraska Cross Country ScheduleDate Meet Location Time/ResultSept. 3 Creighton/UNO Classic Omaha, Neb. W-1st/M-2ndSept. 17 Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational Lincoln, Neb. W-1st/M-3rdOct. 1 SDSU Classic Brookings, S.D. 9:20 a.m.Oct. 14 Wisconsin adidas Invitational Madison, Wis. 1 p.m.Oct. 30 Big Ten Championships Champaign, Ill. 10:45 a.m.Nov. 12 NCAA Midwest Regional DeKalb, Ill. 11 a.m.Nov. 21 NCAA Championships Terre Haute, Ind. Noon*Home meet in bold, ran at Pioneers Park, located in southwest Lincoln off of West Van Dorn St. and South Coddington Ave. All times are Central and subject to change.

2011 Nebraska Cross Country RosterName Year Hometown (Previous School) WOMENIsabel Andrade So. Tiburon, Calif (Petaluma)Martina Barinova* So. Prerov, Czech Republic (Gymnazium Jana Blahoslava)Hannah Edwards Fr. Whittier, Calif. (La Serna)Jessica Furlan** Sr. Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dr. Martin Leboldus)Erica Hamik** Sr. Kearney, Neb. (Catholic)Sarah Larson Fr. Lincoln, Neb. (Northeast)Ashley Miller*** Sr. Tipton, Iowa (Tipton)Samantha Morabe So. Temecula, Calif. (Great Oak)Sarah Plambeck So. Lincoln, Neb. (Christian)Milena Stociev Fr. Belgrade, Serbia (Alfa University)Katie White** Sr. Broken Bow, Neb. (Broken Bow)

MENJesse Adams*** Sr. Ogallala, Neb. (Ogallala)Tommy Brinn Jr. Otsego, Mich. (Otsego) Dani Dapo Jr. Omaha, Neb. (Westside)Brad Doering** Sr. Yuba City, Calif. (Yuba City)Grant Duffy Jr. Lincoln, Neb. (Colorado/Lincoln East)Peter Falcon** Sr. Bellevue, Neb. (West)Connor Gibson So. Blair, Neb. (Blair)Brett Grieb So. York, Neb. (York)Jarren Heng So. Norfolk, Neb. (Catholic)Adam Mitteis Sr. Plattsmouth, Neb. (Plattsmouth)Anthony Pittman So. Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)Alney Tobias RFr. Troy, N.Y. (Lansingburgh)Trevor Vidlak* Jr. Lincoln, Neb. (Northeast)

Bold - 2011 captains* - denotes letters earned

Pronunciation GuideIsabel Andrade - On-DRAH-day Dani Dapo - Johnny JAP-oMartina Barinova - BEAR-uh-nova Jarren Heng - JAIR-enSam Morabe - MOOR-ah-bay Adam Mitteis - MET-usMilena Stociev - MILL-unna STOY-chev Alney Tobias - AL-nee

NEBRASKANEBRASKA

MenJesse AdamsTommy BrinnDani DapoBrad DoeringGrant DuffyPeter FalconConnor GibsonBrett GriebJarren HengAdam MitteisAlney TobiasTrevor Vidlak

WomenIsabel AndradeMartina BarinovaHannah EdwardsJessica FurlanErica HamikSarah LarsonAshley MillerSamantha MorabeSarah PlambeckKatie White

Follow the Huskers on @NE_XCOUNTRY

Women’s National Poll1. Georgetown (10)2. New Mexico3. Providence (1)4. Colorado (1)5. Villanova6. Stanford7. Florida State8. Iowa State9. Duke10. California11. Arizona12. Syracuse13. Michigan14. Texas15. North Carolina16. Virginia17. Oregon18. Arkansas19. Michigan State20. Washington21. Minnesota22. Princeton23. Oklahoma State24. West Virginia25. Texas Tech26. Florida27. Iowa28. Penn State29. BYU30. Vanderbilt

Women’s Regional Poll1. Iowa State2. Oklahoma State3. Minnesota4. Iowa5. Tulsa6. Kansas7. Northwestern8. Nebraska9. Oklahoma10. Kansas State11.Illinois12.Illinois State13. Wichita State14. Missouri15. Saint Louis

Men’s National Poll1. Oklahoma State (11)2. Wisconsin (1)3. Stanford4. Oklahoma5. Iona6. Indiana7. Colorado8. Oregon9. NC State10. Florida State11. Portland12. Princeton13. Northern Arizona14. BYU15. Syracuse16. Arkansas17. Providence18. Villanova19. Virginia20. Minnesota21.New Mexico22. Georgetown23. Notre Dame24. Texas25. Ohio State26. Eastern Kentucky27. Louisville28. Michigan 29. Florida30. Arizona State

Men’s Regional Poll1. Oklahoma State2. Oklahoma3. Minnesota4. Iowa State5. Illinois6. Tulsa7. Kansas8. Iowa9. Southern Illinois10. Nebraska11. South Dakota State12. Drake13. Loyola-Chicago14. Illinois Chicago15. North Dakota State

2011 USTFCCCA Preseason Polls (09/27/11)

Husker Women Claim Seventh Straight Greeno Title... The Nebraska women’s cross country team captured its 17th title at the 22nd annual Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational Saturday at Pioneers Park. The women’s university division victory marked their seventh consecutive Woody Greeno title, while the Husker men added a third-place finish. Jessica Furlan led the Huskers with a third-place individual finish in a time of 21:32.08, which placed her 11th on the all-time Pioneers Park performance list. The Huskers placed three more in the top 15, including senior Erica Hamik’s fifth-place showing and Katie White’s sixth-place effort. Ashley Miller added a 12th-place performance. Sophomore Sarah Plambeck just missed a top-15 showing with her 16th-place showing in a time of 22:25.08. Trevor Vidlak led the Nebraska men with a fourth-place finish in a time of 24:46.22. Vidlak’s time was more than 2:30 faster than his time at the Woody Greeno a year ago. Jim Walmsley of Air Force claiming the individual title. Walmsley claimed his second straight Greeno title in the sixth-fastest time (24:15.3) in Pioneers Park history. Wyoming’s Greg Miller took second and Air Force’s Jeremy Drenckhahn finished third. Nebraska’s Brad Doering added a top-10 finish by placing ninth, while Jesse Adams took 19th. Jarren Heng finished 22nd, and Connor Gibson placed 33rd. The Huskers ended the 22nd annual Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational on a bittersweet note, by paying tribute to Head Coach Jay Dirksen. A major contributor to the historic success of the annual meet, Dirksen led the way in helping the Huskers host nearly 60 teams and more than 700 student-athletes on an annual basis. Dirksen was also honored by Nebraska Wesleyan’s Head Coach Ted Bulling, with a plaque commemorating all the hard work Dirksen has done for Nebraska’s cross country program and for the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational.

Husker Women Capture Third Straight Title... The Nebraska cross country team opened the 2011 season with the Husker women capturing their third straight Creighton/Nebraska-Omaha team title. Ashley Miller raced to an individual crown on the women’s side, while Jarren Heng took second on the men’s side to help the Huskers place second as a team. The win in Omaha marked the sixth title for the Husker women in the past seven years. The Husker women were dominant over Creighton and Nebraska-Omaha, as Miller led a 1-2-4-5-6 finish for the Huskers with a time of 19:04.21 in the 5K race. Miller was followed by Erica Hamik, Katie White, Sarah Plambeck and Isabel Andrade. “The women ran solid as a group,” Head Coach Jay Dirksen said. “All the sophomores ran really well, and I was especially impressed with Sarah Larson as she ran really well for her first ever cross country meet.” For the men, the Huskers placed six runners in the top 15. Heng paced the pack with an 8K time of 27:31.24. A sophomore from Norfolk, Neb., Heng was joined in the top 15 by Tommy Brinn (6th),

HUSKERS.COM

University Quick FactsLocation ..................Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0123Population ..........................................258,379Founded ..................................................1869Enrollment ............................................24,610Nickname .....................Cornhuskers, HuskersColors ....................................Scarlet & CreamConference ..........................................Big TenHome Course .............................Pioneers Park

University PersonnelChancellor ..................Harvey S. Perlman, J.D.Institutional Rep. ......... Josephine Potuto, J.D.Athletic Director ........................Tom OsborneSenior Woman Administrator .......... Pat Logsdon

AdministrationPresident ..................... James B. Milliken, J.D.

Cross Country Coaching StaffJay Dirksen ..........Head Coach (S.D. State, ‘68)Office Phone ........................... (402) 472-1136e-mail ......................... [email protected]

David Harris ....2012 Head Coach (Truman State)e-mail .......................... [email protected]

Doug Martin ....... Volunteer Coach (UNK, ‘66)e-mail [email protected]

Grant Watley ... Volunteer Coach (Wesleyan ‘09)e-mail ......................... [email protected]

Women’s Team Facts2010 Big 12/Regional Finish ............... 8th/8th2010 NCAA Finish ................... No Team Score2010 Letterwinners Returning/Lost .......... 5/2

Men’s Team Facts2010 Big 12/Regional Finish ............. 6th/10th2010 NCAA Finish ....................No Team Score2010 Letterwinners Returning/Lost .......... 4/4

DirectoryNebraska Athletic Department ...(402) 472-4224Cross Country Office ............... (402) 472-6461Cross Country Office Fax ........ (402) 472-9361

Media RelationsAssistant A.D./Media Relations ....Keith MannCross Country Contact ........ BreAnna HaesslerOffice Phone .......... (402) 472-0694 (Haessler)Cell Phone ............. (402) 499-3612 (Haessler)E-mail [email protected] Relations Office .......... (402) 472-2263Media Relations Fax ............... (402) 472-2005Shipping Address ....... One Memorial Stadium...................................Lincoln, NE 68588-0123Website ......................................Huskers.com

Peter Falcon (11th), Connor Gibson (12th), Dani Dapo (14th) and Alney Tobias (15th). “We held three of our top five guys out today,” Dirksen said. “Jarren Heng ran real comfortably today, the men have a lot of room for improvement but we will be able to tell where we are as a team at the home meet when everybody is out on the course.”

Dirksen to Retire Following Cross Country Season... After 28 seasons as Nebraska’s head cross country coach and assistant coach in charge of the distance squad for the NU track and field team, Jay Dirksen has announced that he will retire following the 2011 cross country season and hand the reins over to David Harris. Dirksen will leave Nebraska with an impressive resume that includes 14 cross country All-Americans, 39 track and field All-Americans, 45 track and field individual conference champions and five Big 12 cross country team titles. “It is hard to believe that 28 years have gone by so fast since I first came to Nebraska,” Dirksen said. “The University of Nebraska is committed to making it possible for our student-athletes to be well-rounded individuals. The balance between academics and athletics is excellent at Nebraska.” Entering the 2011 season, Dirksen’s cross country teams have produced 36 top-five finishes and 21 top-three finishes in his 56 appearances at the Big Eight and Big 12 Championships. The NU women have won five conference team championships (1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993), the only women’s cross country titles in school history. The men have also traditionally been one of the top teams in the conference. Under Dirksen, three Huskers have won individual conference titles, two for the men, Jonah Kiptarus (1996) and David Iteffa (1991), and one for the women, Fran ten Bensel (1991). Through all the success, Dirksen said some of the best memories have come away from the course. “The relationships with the athletes are the best,” Dirksen said. “I really enjoy watching a young 17- or 18-year-old athlete come in and mature not only as a runner, but also as a person. It’s fun to know that you’ve had some influence on his or her life. I think a lot of times athletes don’t realize what they’ve learned in athletics until they get out in the real world for a while. It’s great to be a part of that whole process.” In cross country, Dirksen’s 14 All-Americans have earned a total of 20 All-America awards. Only one Husker male, and no female runners, had earned All-America recognition before Dirksen’s arrival in 1983. Among the honored athletes are three-time All-American ten Bensel (1990-91-92) and two-time All-Americans Cleophas Boor (1996-97), Joe Kirby (1988-89), Sammie Resh (1987-88) and Jacques van Rensburg (1988-89). In addition to the second- and third-place finishes by Kiptarus and Boor at the 1996 national meet, the other highest men’s individual places have been earned by Jean Verster, who took fifth in 1985, and Boor, who placed sixth in 1997. All-America status was also earned by Kayte Tranel (2005), Jeroen Broekzitter (1997), Theresa Stelling (1993), Kurt Russell (1984) and Wally Duffy (1983). “I have been very blessed to have been at Nebraska all these years,” Dirksen said. “We have had many great athletes and many great teams. The reason I love coaching so much is because of these athletes. We have such a great group of kids this year, and I am so excited to be able to coach them. I have been doing this for years but these kids only get four years and we want to make it the best experience for them.” Nebraska cross country athletes have been known for being great students ever since Dirksen’s arrival on campus. Each year the Herman Award is given to the Nebraska men’s and women’s teams with the highest grade-point averages. The 2009-10 awards were swept by the cross country teams for the second straight year. In the 17-year history of the award, the women have won it 10 times, while the men have claimed eight awards. Both teams were also honored in 2010 as an All-Academic Cross Country Team for the third straight year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The women posted a GPA of 3.449, while the men collectively posted a GPA of 3.313. Since the award was first given out by the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association in 1994 (combined with the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association in 2006 to form the USTFCCCA), the women have earned the honor 16 times, posting the top GPA in the country in 1994, 1995 and 2000. The men have been honored seven times. Dirksen will transition the program to Harris this fall. Dirksen plans to retire with his wife, Diane, to their home in Hot Springs Village, Ark. Through an exception from the NCAA, Pepin was able to hire Harris prior to Dirksen’s retirement.to Nebraska.”

Jay Dirksen enters his 29th and final season as Nebraska’s head coach for the cross country team in 2011. For the past 28 years, the cross country team has consistently been among the top programs in the country, while Dirksen has established himself as the most successful cross country coach in Nebraska history since his arrival in the

fall of 1983. He has also served the Husker track and field team as an assistant coach for men’s and women’s distance and middle distance runners. Overall, the Dirksen era has been filled with outstanding team and individual highlights. The women have won five conference team championships (1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993), the only women’s cross country titles in school history. The men have also have ranked among the top teams in the conference since 1983. Under Dirksen, three Huskers have won individual conference titles, two for the men (Jonah Kiptarus, 1996 and David Iteffa, 1991), and one for the women (Fran ten Bensel, 1991) while members of the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences. Dirksen’s teams have produced 36 top-five finishes and 21 top-three finishes in 56 appearances at the league championships. Through it all, Dirksen said his best memories have come away from the course. “The relationships with the athletes are the best,” he said. “I really enjoy watching a young 17- or 18-year-old athlete come in and mature not only as a runner, but also as a person. It’s fun to know that you’ve had some influence on his or her life. I think a lot of times athletes don’t realize what they’ve learned in athletics until they get out in the real world for a while. It’s great to be a part of that whole process.” Nebraska cross country athletes are also known for being great students. Each year the Herman Award is given to the Nebraska men’s and women’s teams with the highest grade-point averages. The 2009-10 awards were swept by the cross country teams for the second straight year. In the 17-year history of the award, the women have won it 10 times, while the men have claimed eight awards. “The athletes have all the things they need to be successful at Nebraska,” Dirksen said. “That’s positive because we have an environment where they can develop if they’re somebody who has a lot of ability but just hasn’t developed yet. There are many resources so that you can make the most of your time here.”

Jay Dirksen Head Coach

Cross Country Coaching Honors26 NCAA Championship Appearances20 Cross Country All-Americans6 NCAA Regional Team Titles5 Big Eight Conference Team Titles3 Individual Conference Champions2003 NCAA Midwest Regional Coach of the Year

Track and Field Coaching Honors3 NCAA Champions1 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion39 All-Americans44 Conference Champions

Creighton/UNO Classic

Woody Greeno

SDSUClassic

Wisconsin adidas Invite

Big Ten Championships

NCAA Midwest Regional

NCAA Championships

IsabelAndrade

6th19:54.72

30th22:56.98

MartinaBarinova DNR DNR

HannahEdwards

26th21:31.19

N/A24:13.7

Jessica Furlan DNR 3rd

21:32.08EricaHamik

2nd19:08.34

5th21:37.68

SarahLarson

10th20:14.72

36th23:06.38

Ashley Miller

1st19:04.21

12th22:03.38

SamMorabe

40th23:19.19

N/A25:28.3

SarahPlambeck

5th19:40.22

16th22:25.08

MilenaStociev DNR DNR

KatieWhite

4th19:31.18

6th21:39.98

2011 Nebraska women’s team: (Back, from left): Jessica Furlan, Martina Barinova, Sarah Larson, Hannah Edwards, Sarah Plambeck, Sam Morabe (Front from left): Ashley Miller, Katie White, Isabel Andrade, Milena Stociev, Erica Hamik.

2011 Nebraska men’s team: (Back, from left): Anthony Pittman, Brad Doering, Peter Falcon, Brett Grieb, Alney Tobais, Adam Mitteis, Dani Dapo (First row): Grant Duffy, Jesse Adams, Tommy Brinn, Trevor Vidlak, Connor Gibson, Jarren Heng.

Creighton/UNO Classic

Woody Greeno

SDSUClassic

Wisconsin adidas Invite

Big TenChampionships

NCAA Midwest Regional

NCAA Championships

JesseAdams DNR 19th

25:45.42Tommy Brinn

6th28:11.18

36th26:23.37

Dani Dapo

14th28:53.46

N/A28:44.4

Brad Doering DNR 9th

25:10.37Grant Duffy

26th30:11.06 DNR

Peter Falcon

11th28:47.81

N/A27:57.8

Connor Gibson

12th28:52.68

33rd26:18.52

Brett Grieb

28th30:25.58

N/A28:48.1

Jarren Heng

2nd27:31.24

22nd25:48.77

Adam Mitteis DNR 102nd

27:43.32Anthony Pittman DNR DNR

Alney Tobias

15th29:07.08

N/A30:20.4

Trevor Vidlak DNR 4th

24:46.22

Jesse Adams Tommy Brinn Dani Dapo Brad Doering

Grant Duffy Peter Falcon Connor Gibson Brett Grieb

Jarren Heng Adam Mitteis Anthony Pittman Alney Tobias

Trevor Vidlak

Isabel Andrade Martina Barinova Hannah Edwards Jessica Furlan

Erica Hamik Sarah Larson Ashley Miller Sam Morabe

Sarah Plambeck Milena Stociev Katie White

NEBRASKA · Anthony Pittman So. Omaha, Neb. (Millard West) Alney Tobias RFr. Troy, N.Y....

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