Ripon College Days

"I truly believe that our women will contend for the conference championship," says Duley. He also has faith that the men's team will finish in the top three.

Both teams came one step closer to achieving this goal Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Lawrence Invitational. The women's team, led by senior Heather Kargl, first year Heidi Heberlein, and senior Gina Baker finished fourth overall out of 15 teams. The men's team, led by junior David Billings, sophomore Aaron Kammer, and first year Harrison Smith, finished fifth.

"It was nice to get a look at the course we will be running on at conference," says junior co-captain Peter Nielsen. "We carried out our race plans pretty well. Almost everyone improved over last week, and that is what we need to see."

Both coach and runners see a lot of talent in the teams' new additions. "We have some impressive new talent," says sophomore Jolene Rueden. " They're bringing new excitement to the team."

But Duley says the newcomers have plenty of solid leadership to look to for guidance.

Women's captains Gina Baker and Heather Kargl are both coming off of all-conference seasons. Baker, who was named the Midwest Conference's Runner of the Week last week, will be seeking her fourth consecutive title this season. She would be the first in Ripon's history to achieve this.

Leading the men, David Billings is also coming off of an All-Conference season and is hoping to achieve national honors.

"Right now he is one of the best runners in the conference," Nielsen says. "It helps the whole team to see him so motivated. The whole team knows that we can't settle for fifth anymore."

The Red Hawks will compete again next Saturday at the UW Parkside Invitational.

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