Cross country hopes bye-week break can boost rosters

Short on runners rather than steam, the MHCC cross country team has had it rough in its last two meets this season — running its last meet with incomplete teams — but there may be help on the horizon.

“We are working on getting two more women eligible for the Southern Region Championship and the NWAACC Championship meets,” said cross country coach Matt Hart.  “We will have them run as soon as they are eligible.”
With these potential additions, things are looking up for the women’s team.

Asked whether the cross country team has considered cutting meets based on low participation, Hart said the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) has made it mandatory that all sport programs reduce the number of competitions for each season in an attempt to be more cost effective in the economic times schools are going through.

“With cross country, it is hard on the body to push it hard too often so we don’t necessarily compete every weekend,” he said.

This is the second time in school history that MHCC has not had complete teams. The other year was 2005.

“2005 was a challenge because I had just come back into coaching at the college and inherited a program from the previous coach,” said Hart.  “I am confident that MHCC will field complete teams for the men and women this year.”

Though the team is short on runners, Hart said it is not at risk of being cut as a program.

“Cutting cross country wouldn’t help much as it doesn’t cost much to field the team.  Out of the nine athletic programs, men’s cross country and women’s cross country combined have almost half the budget as the next cheapest sport,” Hart said.  In some years, MHCC has “had over 20 combined student-athletes for the men’s and women’s cross country teams, all of which need to be full-time students to participate,” he said.

“Low cost of participation plus a potential high roster count equals a profit to the college,” said Hart.

Since the team is low on numbers, Hart said the team will have to work that much harder.

“I think the low numbers gives them a sense of urgency knowing that there is less room for error.  On the women’s side, I am confident that we will have a complete team for both of our championship meets. I am proud of the efforts all of our men and women have put forth in practices, competitions and in their schooling,” said Hart.  “We have a great group of student-athletes who have a strong desire to improve.”

Any students interested in running on the cross country team should contact Hart at 503-491-7455 or by e-mail at [email protected].

The cross country teams will resume their season today at the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City. The meet begins at 3:30 p.m.