 | Cross Country |
SIUE Cross Country SIUE Athletics | |
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 Brian Taghon
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November 17, 2003 Taghon, Steffens Ready for Nationals The wait is just about over. Breanne Steffens (Moline) and Brian Taghon (East Moline) will be the first SIUE cross country runners to run in the NCAA Cross Country Championships when the meet gets under way Saturday morning at Cary, N.C. The women’s race begins at 11 a.m. followed by the men’s race at noon. “It’s an exciting time in the program right now,” Frerker said. For Steffens, a senior, the meet will be extra special as it will be her last collegiate cross country competition. “This meet is a culmination of all her hard work and determination throughout her career,” Frerker said. Steffens, the Great Lakes Valley Conference individual champion, qualified for the meet after finishing second at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals, where she ran the 6,000-meter course in 21 minutes, 42.9 seconds. That time shattered her own school record that was set earlier in the season. Taghon, a sophomore, promises to gain valuable experience that he will be able to use throughout his career. “It will be great experience for a successful future,” Frerker said. Taghon’s 10,000-meter time of 31:41.1 was good for second-place at the regional meet and an automatic bid to the national meet. “We have trained all year to peak at nationals,” Frerker said. “We started to peak at regionals, and the athletes know you can hold a peak for several weeks. They have been consistent all year, and this will be a culmination of a great season.” -siue cougars- |
