Kansas Cross Country Hosts Media Day
Aug. 26, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas held its annual Fall Olympic Sports Media Day Wednesday, Aug 26. Cross Country Head Coach Stanley Redwine, along with senior Lauren Bonds and sophomore Donny Wasinger spoke with the media about the upcoming season. The Jayhawks’ open with the Bob Timmons Classic on Sept. 5 at Rim Rock Farm.
Head Coach Stanley Redwine
Opening Statement:
“Last year, we talked about both our men’s and women’s programs being young programs. On our men’s side, I thought Bret Imgrund would do a great job and he did do a great job, but we had a freshman, Donny Wasinger, step up as our number one finisher in most of our meets. We are really excited that he’s back this year and doing a great job already in training. Lauren Bonds is once again looking really great in practice, and we’re expecting her to do great things as well.”
On new assistant coach Michael Whittlesey:
“We have a new assistant coach, Mike Whittlesey, who came from The University of North Carolina. He brings great expertise and will be a huge help to the improvement and success of our distance athletes. He has a lot of experience as a coach and an athlete, so I know he will be a great asset this season.”
On depth of the programs:
“We still need a little depth on the men’s side to get to exactly where I’d like to be, but there are a lot of talented returning athletes, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they will perform. On the women’s side, we added some depth with the addition of six new freshmen, so overall we are really looking forward to having our best year yet on the men’s and women’s sides.”
On early standout athletes:
“When talking with Coach Whittlesey, we really feel Bret Imgrund stands out as being one of our strongest runners, as well as Donny Wasinger. On the women’s side, Lauren Bonds is doing well. The goal is to try to get her to the NCAA this year, and I believe she will do it. In addition to Bonds, Amanda Miller and Kara Windisch are looking good, which really makes a great pack right there with those three returners. We have to have a solid pack in order to do well at the Big 12 meet, and that’s what we’re trying to create. We recruited several people who come in and help achieve that goal, which is really the primary focus of our women’s team.”
Sophomore Donny Wasinger
On if he thinks having more experience will help the team this year:
“I think it will. I think that last year the team had more of an individual mindset. We had so many young guys and we were just trying to figure out how each of us was going to fit in on the team. A lot of friendships and trust have been gained among us since last year and we can just go out there and work together as a whole team. I think this year we are going to have a big improvement as an entire team. We have been working together this summer running and lifting, and we have been setting high expectations for ourselves this year.”
On his expectations for both himself and the team:
“The big goal for me is to improve in our conference. Last year we finished in eighth place at the Big 12 meet, but we have nine of the 11 guys who competed in that event coming back. The major goal in my mind as a result of our returning experience is to finish in the top five in our conference. I am excited for that meet. We will work hard and hopefully have a strong showing.”
Senior Lauren Bonds
On changes made this year:
“So far it has been a big change, but it has been a really good change. We are taking a much more serious approach to training right now with drills and weights, and we are doing a lot of things we aren’t used to. I think it will really pay off and I think we all get along with Coach Whit (Dr. Michael Whittlesey) so far.”
On Coach Whittlesey coming from a successful women’s program at North Carolina:
“In the past our coaches have had a little more success on the men’s side but it will be nice to feel like we have an edge on the women’s side now. All the girls are really excited about all the talented runners he has coached, so I think it will be a great thing for both the men’s and women’s team.”