It has been 13 years since competitive running has taken place at Judson University. On September 12th, Judson University's history in cross country will be reopened as they compete in their first meet of the season at Aurora University.
In December 2007, Judson University decided to bring back cross country and hired a local cross country coach from Marengo High School in Rich Weinhandl. Since that time, Weinhandl has been driving all over the Midwest recruiting the best athletes to compete in a history making year.
"The return of cross country to Judson University is very exciting to me, personally," says head coach Rich Weinhandl. "For the past nine months a lot of hard work went into putting together two teams that will certainly be competitive. As I have watched the Lord call seven women and nine men to be a part of this historic moment, I get really pumped to start the season and see what He has in store for them and for me as well."
With a new program comes a new vision. Weinhandl has set out to put that vision in place for his team and for Judson. Because it has been since the early 1990s when the last team was fielded at Judson, Weinhandl has chosen the theme "Time to Rebuild."
"The best positive for men's and women's cross country is that we are all starting from ground zero," says Weinhandl. "Our motto is ‘Time to Rebuild' and it comes from Nehemiah 2:4-5. We all share one common purpose and plan: to rebuild the once proud cross country program for Judson. The runners will not be alone in this endeavor as a whole family of past cross country athletes will join them in supporting and encouraging them."
The theme "Time to Rebuild" attracted a lot of top recruits as they will become a part of history from the ground up. Both the men's and women's teams will be competitive right away. Each team features athletes that have competed either at a top level in high school or in junior college.
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Nick Sustersic |
"The men's team is loaded with five to six athletes within 30 seconds of each other and the strength of the team will be seen by the tightness of its pack," says Weinhandl. "The men's team is not lacking in their big meet experience, either, as Dakota West has run at the National Junior College Championships and Sustersic competed at the Illinois State High School Championships last fall."
Joining Sustersic will be Dakota West (Lindenhurst, IL/Antioch HS) as he transfers in as a junior from the College of Lake Community. In the past two years, West was a leader on his team and qualified twice for the National Junior College National Cross Country meet.
Adding more depth for Judson from Illinois are Matt DeBall (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb HS), Nate Faulkner (Davis, IL/Durand HS), and Ethan Hahn (Lakes Villa, IL/Lakes Community HS). DeBall helped his team to two invitational wins and an Illinois Regional Championship in his senior season. Both Faulkner and Hahn were team captains while Hahn was a two-time All-Conference selection and won two conference team championships.
Coming to Judson from outside of the state of Illinois is Robert Altenburger (West Salem, OH/Black River HS), Thomas Jarrett (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy), Bisrat Kidane (Fishers, IN/Fishers HS), and Halston Portalez (Weatherford, TX/Poolville HS). Altenburger brings many awards to Judson as he was a two-time All-Ohio Regional qualifier, two-time All-Area selection, conference MVP, and guided his team to a conference championship.
Jarrett ran competitively for a top notch team in Missouri and Kidane helped his team to an Indiana State Championship. In Texas, Portalez finished 17th at the Texas 5A State Cross Country meet and helped his team to a bronze medal finish.
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Rachel Dean |
"Rachel Dean will be looked upon to help lead the women as she has a time of 18:07 in the three-mile run. There are also many other talented runners that will also help contribute to the team's success," says Weinhandl.
Rachel Dean (Lindenhurst, IL/Lakes HS) was the first women to commit to coach Weinhandl for the new team. She was an All-State runner and then qualified for the USA Track and Field national qualifier through her club team.
Bringing state level running experience to Judson are Kim Peek (Springdale, AR/Har-Ber HS), Abbie DuPont (Springfield, IL/Southeast HS), and Salina Durston (Vashon, WA/Vashon HS). Peek was a four-time Arkansas All-State selection and a member of the Arkansas All-Star Cross Country team. DuPont ran at the 2007 Illinois State Cross Country Championships and Durston ran at the Washington State Championships.
Dianna Clark (Fairbury, IL/Prairie Central HS) also has won many medals at the high school level.
Transferring in from Moraine Valley Community College are sisters Sharon and Sandra Hubbarb (Hickory Hills, IL/Amos Alonzo Stagg HS). Both were the core to the MVCC team as they won the Illinois Skyway Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV championships in their first season of collegiate competition while also competing at the NJCAA National Meet. Both runners had a successful two-year career for Moraine Valley CC. Sandra Hubbarb was a two-time All-Illinois Skyway Conference and NJCAA All-Region IV selection while Sharon helped the teams to their championships.
The Expectations/The Schedule"I expect nothing less than all out effort during each practice and during competitions," says Weinhandl. "I expect my teams to help and support their teammates as if they were family. I do know that everybody in our first recruiting class are hard workers and competitive in nature and will give their all to represent Judson well on the field of competition. I will have an exciting time coaching and watching them do just that."
Judson will compete in eight meets including the CCAC Championships and the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association National Meet. Each meet features strong competition among NAIA and NCAA Division III programs. Judson will start the season on September 12 at the Aurora (IL) Invitational. Judson will also run meets at Cedarville University (OH), Indiana Wesleyan, Benedictine (IL), Illinois College, and Graceland (IA).
Judson will not back down in their first season of competition. The teams that coach Weinhandl has put together will push any team to their limits.
Weinhandl says, "This I do know, this first recruitment class is loaded with talent and come with a competitive mindset. They will train and compete and if other teams do not do the same, this team will beat them."
September 12th will mark the beginning of a new era in Judson cross country as the program will be reopened for competition.
