Entering his third season at the helm of the cross country team, Joe Jaketic has continued to make steady progress in building the Viking program.

Last season, Jaketic guided the squad to an eighth place showing at the Horizon League Championships. It marked the first time since the 1997 MCC Championships that the Vikings finished ahead of a league foe.

In addition, Jaketic was instrumental in helping then freshman Caitlan Ebner earn Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors for her performance at the Kent State Short Course Classic last season (Oct. 21). Ebner placed 15th at the 3K meet with a time of 12:10

This year, Jaketic welcomes back sophomore Colleen Conway, who placed 42nd at the league championships last season. She is the top returning finisher from last year.

In addition, junior Audrey Piotrowski returns after finishing 66h last year, while her twin sister, Julie, will return after running in just one race last season due to inujury.

Although it is just his third season as women's cross country coach, Jaketic is certainly a veteran of CSU athletics. He is now in his 37th season overseeing the department's equipment operations.