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Sept. 9, 1997

1997 Men's Cross Country Outlook

Texas Tech's 1997 men's and women's cross country teams are moving into the second season in the Big 12 Conference. Both teams are returning a great deal of young talent and adding a list of newcomers.

For the first time, the men's and women's team will work as one unit. The squads have spent the past few years travelling to meets separately and operating under separate coaches. This year the teams join forces to travel and compete for Texas Tech.

Faced with the task of uniting the team is head coach Greg Sholars. Sholars recently took charge of Texas Tech's running program as a whole after the departure of assistant Layne Anderson. The onset of the fall season also saw the absence of former women's coach Kirk Elias, and former women's track coach, Liz Parke, take on the title of the athletic department's director of events.

Sholars has previously spent two years with the Red Raiders, coaching the men's track and field team. This year, he takes on the title of head men's and women's cross country coach and head men's and women's track and field coach.

Sholars came to Tech in 1995 as the head men's track and field coach. Last year, he was responsible for leading the Red Raiders to eight All-America performances at the 1997 NCAA Track and Field National Championships.

Assisting the program this year is Trece Hayslett. Initially hired as a track and field assistant, Hayslett will be taking on coaching duties with the cross country team as well. A 1993 graduate of Memphis State, Hayslett came to Texas Tech in August.

The Texas Tech coaching staff is also looking to fill some of the voids left by the recent departures.

Heading into 1997, the ratio of upperclassmen to underclassmen is bottom-heavy. 14 of the 19 women listed at the start of the season are either freshmen or sophomores. On the men's side, 13 out of 18 are in their first two years at Tech, with only one senior filling up the ranks.

With several freshmen and junior college transfers joining the squad, quick development is key. The coaching staff is focusing on boosting the team up from its 9th and 12th place finishes at last year's Big 12 Championships.

"We're excited about getting an opportunity to look at how our team stacks up this year," said Sholars. "It's exciting to have the men's and women's teams together. If there's one thing we've got, it's Red Raider spirit."

Michael Kariuki (Nairobi, Kenya) is looking to set the pace for the Texas Tech men's team. Kariuki transferred to Tech from Butler Country Community College in Kansas where he was one of the top junior college distance runners. In 1995, he claimed the NJCAA Cross Country National Championship and was named to the All-NJCAA Academic team.

Also looking to contend for the number one spot on the squad are junior Samson Ngetich (Londiani, Kenya) and sophomore David Leigh. Ngetich competed with the Red Raider track team in the spring and should have an immediate impact on this year's cross country squad. Leigh is Tech's top returnee. After having a strong freshman campaign, Leigh will be the front runner and will provide leadership for the newcomers.

Several additional runners will step up to fill out the squad. Sophomore Jessie Williams (Rantoul, Ill) and junior Alex Aldaco (Denton, Texas) will add depth. Before coming to Tech in 1995, Aldaco claimed the Division II National Cross Country title in 1994 while attending Adams State University. Also returning for the Red Raiders is junior Dan Miller (Media, Penn.). Miller held a key position on the team last year and should continue to run strong.