Lady Cardinal harriers set to defend SWIAC title

BLOOMFIELD -- The 2009 Bloomfield girls cross country team members include (front row from left) Kristin Hall, Bri Wilson, Julie Riggins, Kelsey Bucher and Charlene Warren. The back row (from left) includes Sarah Miller, Alley Gilliland and Brittney Combs. Not pictured is Avery Frederick. (By Travis David/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

Veteran head coach Loren Hadley said he is pleased with the attitude the girls have entering the season.

"Right now the girls are focused on winning the SWIAC again," he said. "We also want to try and get as many girls out of the sectional as possible."

As a freshman last season, Julie Riggins was the only Lady Cardinal to make it out of the Brown County Sectional with a 14th place finish. Riggins was the area's top female runner for most of the season last year. The now sophomore, finished first at the Greene County meet to open up the season, and was second at the SWIAC meet. She is once again expected to be the Cardinals top runner this season and contend for the top spot in the area.

"Julie got a late start to practice this summer, as she missed the first week of practice due to prior obligations with church functions," Hadley said. "But she came to practice in great shape and is looking really good right now."

Hadley mentioned junior Alley Gilliland and sophomore Avery Frederick are the No. 2 and No. 3 runners for the Lady Cardinals at this moment.

Freshmen Charlene Warren and Kristin Hall are also expected to make an immediate splash this season.

"Our two freshmen have really been running pretty good thus far," Hadley said of Hall and Warren.

The veteran head coach mentioned Sarah Miller, one of two seniors on the team, will compete with Hall and Warren for the No. 3 through No. 5 spots on the team. Miller finished fourth in the SWIAC meet last season.

Rounding out the roster for the Lady Cards are senior Bri Wilson, and a pair of juniors, Kelsey Bucher and Brittney Combs.

The team lost five girls to graduation, but Hadley made it clear the team is not rebuilding.

"We lost five girls from last year's SWIAC championship team, but we have a lot of experience returning as well," he said. "I wouldn't say this is a rebuilding year, but rather a remodeling season."

The Lady Cardinals will open their season on Thursday, Aug. 27 at White River Valley for the Greene County Invitational. The Lady Cards captured the team title last season, placing three girls in the top 10.

Bloomfield

Girls Cross Country Roster

Player Gr.

Coach: Loren Hadley.