By Staff
CENTREVILLE - People are jogging these days along country roads, down city streets, and narrow park paths, so why aren't they running at picturesque Glen Oaks Community College. Well, soon they will be!
Cross Country returns to Glen Oaks in the fall 2006 semester. It's been several decades since a Viking running team competed. Rick Lott, a veteran of 15 years in coaching, has been named to head the team. Lott has coached football, track and cross country and the past seven years served as boys track coach at Niles High School. He also helped coach cross country several years at Southwestern Michigan College, where he competed as a student. SMC, however, no longer has a sports program. Lott, who competed in his prep years at Dowagiac High School, has learned plenty from the coaches he has assisted over the years.
Glen Oaks Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Steve Proefrock said Coach Lott came highly recommended by Ron Gunn, Professor of Physical Education at Southwestern Michigan College. “Gunn has won national championships himself and he knows what it takes to make a program strong.” Proefrock said the decision was an easy one to make cross country the sixth sport at the college. “The sport doesn't take a lot of revenue. It is less costly than many. There is a lot of interest locally in this sport and I think we can become strong in our Conference with quality teams.”
Lott said he jumped at the chance to coach the new Glen Oaks team.
Coach Lott said he expects a half dozen or so five-mile meets beginning the first week of September through October. Meets are often run on golf courses against teams like Macomb Community College, Lansing Community College and Saginaw Valley State University.
Coach Lott is an avid runner himself and will encourage team members to keep a running log and stay motivated throughout the summer.