The men's cross country team will compete at the Indiana Open this weekend and try to improve upon last year's ninth place finish in the Mid-American Conference.
Jermaine Jones will coach the team with student assistant Michael Johnson overseeing the team.
Jones graduated from Anderson University in 1997, where he was a 1996 All-American. He was also the conference's Most Valuable Player in 1995 and 1997, a three-time All-Conference performer in the discus and All-League in the shot put in 1997.
He has been head cross country and track and field coach at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. While there, he coached one athlete to All-American status in throws.
He also spent a year as an administrative assistant with the Fort Wayne Community Schools System.
Most recently, he worked as a graduate assistant for Ball State, where he coached one All-American and three All-Conference athletes.
"Competition is definitly what drives me," Jones said. "Any given Friday or Saturday we can beat a big time team. You just have to step up and see what your made of."
Johnson, a fifth-year senior, ran for the team the previous four years. He is finishing his landscape architecture degree.
"I want to keep everyone positive and working toward a common goal," Johnson said.
This year's team has 22 runners. With a good group of upperclassmen and one of the best recruiting classes in history, Johnson said the team should have a quality season.
"We just have to put it all together," Johnson said.
Jones would like to see the team finish in the top five of the MAC.
Seniors Sal Impellitteri, Aaron Hoover and Steve Samuel have proven themselves in previous seasons and will be a strong backbone of the team this year.
Sophomore runners Kyle Hinkelman and Zach Scherer can also make an immediate impact.
Freshman Jeff Kent, Stephen Cohen and Justin Stadt could also leave an impression.
This weekend's meet in Bloomington should give everyone experience. It should also bridge the gap between the freshmens' runs in high school and their runs this season.
"No. 1, it's my first meet as head coach and a new start for me on a personal note," Jones said. "No. 2, those guys get a chance to go out and challenge for the MAC Championship.
"I think these guys are eager to compete."
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