2008 Team Captains Kayla Ricksham (left) and Kelly Chaudoin.
First year competitors (l to r) Emma Wilson, Kim Rostvold, Ann Bergstrand, and Kelli Hall wrap up their morning run.
Head Coach Jed Friedrich trains with Megan Lundgren.
Coach Jed Friedrich welcomed 26 runners back to campus to begin training for the 2008 season which will kick off Sept. 13 at the Grinnell College Invitational. Senior captains Kelly Chaudoin and Kayla Ricksham will lead a young squad that includes 17 first year and sophomore competitors.
The Gusties will need to replace all-conference performers Laura Edlund and Sarah Bernhardson who graduated, however five of the team’s top eight runners return from a squad that finished sixth at the MIAC Championships. That group includes Megan Lundgren (So., Mankato, Minn.), who finished 21st at the MIAC Championships, Kate Reins (So., Osseo, Minn.) who finished 43rd, Kelly Chaudoin (Sr., Ely, Minn.) who placed 59th, Brooke Beskau (So., Hastings, Minn.) who finished 67th, and Kathy Westergren (So., Duluth, Minn.) who finished 81st.
The team will train twice daily over the next two weeks with a longer training run in the morning, a shorter run in the afternoon and then wrapping up each day with strength training. Pre-season training will end on August 30 with the annual Alumni Meet taking place on campus in the Arboretum at 9:00 am.