The Dana College men’s and women’s cross country teams are gearing up for a return to prominence this season. Coach Derek Fey is upbeat about the returning core of both team and is excited about his recruiting class.

The men’s team returns its top three runners. John Kaup (SR, Grand Island, Neb.) and Eric Bane (Jr, Oakland, Iowa) will anchor the men’s team. Kaup and Bane each qualified for the NAIA National Marathon race in May. Greg Rickenbacher (Sr, Tacoma, Wash.) is also returning for the men.

The women’s team will feature five returning racers and no seniors. Juniors Tabbi Kabala (Lost Nation, Iowa) and Jen Anderson (Lincoln, Neb.) will team up with sophomores Tina Castle (Farragut, Iowa), Jessica Chizek (Omaha, Neb.), and Amy Jackman (Seward, Neb.) to give the women’s side experience on the course.

“ The 2006 season for both teams looks very promising. Our women’s side is loaded with dedicated, hard-working runners,” said Coach Derek Fey. “The men’s squad is expecting return to the national meet with the returning group we have.”

The women’s cross country team will feature two new faces. Rachel Ness (Seward, Neb.) and Christine Bailey (Omaha, Neb.) will lace up their shoes for the Vikings this year.

The men’s team features ten new runners. Kevin Bane (Oakland, Iowa) will join his brother, Eric, on the Viking squad. Dana College will feature some local flavor this season as Tyler Petersen (Blair, Neb.) joins the team. Other new runners include Ryan Dinkelman (David City, Neb.), Cory Logsdon (Omaha, Neb.), Tim Kruger (Bellevue, Neb.), and Andrew Palmdale (Hastings, Neb.).

“ The men’s squad includes the largest recruiting class in 10 years,” said Fey. “This depth will help us on our goal to making it to the national meet.”
Coach Fey added that a top four regional finish is the goal for the women’s side. A high finish would put them in the hunt of an at-large national berth.

The Vikings’ schedule is extremely tough this season with trips to the Woody Greeno Invite in Lincoln, one of the toughest meets in the nation, and the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder, Colo.

This season the Vikings will host three meets with the annual Dana Open on Sept. 9, Viking Invitational on Oct. 7, and then the Vikings host the Great Plains Athletic Conference meet on Oct. 28.

“We are very excited to make a return to the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder this fall. The meet will include perennial national champion teams from NCAA Division I and II (University of Colorado, Western State, and Adams State). We are always seeking opportunities to race against the nation’s best cross country teams,” Fey commented on this year’s schedule.

The Vikings open up their season on Sept. 9 when they host the Dana Open. The women are scheduled to take off at 10 a.m. and the men at 10:45 a.m.

For more information, contact:
Shad Beam, sports information director, 402-426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu
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Scott Guzinski, assistant sports information director 402-426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu