Krieger takes helm of program, eyes better team finishes

~ The 25-year-old had been an assistant coach at Southern Indiana.

Miles Krieger has only been working with Southeast Missouri State's cross country runners for a little more than a week.

But in that short period of time, he has already seen enough to believe the Redhawks can improve on their Ohio Valley Conference finishes from last year, when the women were fourth and the men placed sixth.

"We're shooting for the top three in both and I think we can do that," Krieger said.

Krieger recently took over the cross country coaching reigns at Southeast, and he will also serve as an assistant with the Redhawks' dominant track program.

The 25-year-old Krieger, an Indiana native, is a former distance runner at Division II power Southern Indiana. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach in both track and cross country at his alma mater under head coach Mike Hillyard, a former Southeast distance standout.

"We're happy to have Miles here," Southeast track coach Joey Haines said. "We knew of him through Mike Hillyard. Southern Indiana has been very successful, especially in the distances, and we feel Miles will do a very good job."

Said Krieger, who replaces Eric Heins on the Redhawks' staff: "I'm very excited to be here. This is a great opportunity with a tremendous program. I would love to take the cross country program to being an annual power in the OVC."

Both Southeast cross country teams -- who open the season Friday at the Southern Indiana Invitational -- return their share of experienced runners along with promising newcomers.

Krieger expects the men to be led by sophomore Kevin McNab, who redshirted in cross country last year and then had a big track season.

"I think he'll be one of the top five in the OVC," Krieger said. "Then we'll have a big pack of guys, maybe six or seven. They're all really close. For me, that's how you win meets."

Seniors Chris Herren and Mark McNamara, along with junior Danny Stults, return after being among the Redhawks' primary runners in 2005. Herren had the top finish at the OVC meet out of that group, 23rd.

The Redhawks were hurt when returnee Brad DeMattei was forced to redshirt because of mononucleosis, but Krieger expects good things from sophomore Brandon Karcher, who redshirted last year, and freshmen Dustin Davis, James Lee and Paul Stemmerman.

Rounding out the squad are junior Kyle Lemarbe, sophomore Tom Kinder, and freshmen Austin Burke and Lucas Luckett.

Zeiler battles injuries

On the women's side, senior Lindsay Zeiler has been one of the OVC's premier track athletes since arriving at Southeast, although she has been hampered by stress fractures for much of her cross country career since winning the league title as a freshman.

Zeiler bounced back last year to finish fifth in the OVC cross country meet and earn first-team all-conference honors. But her availability is again in question because of a possible stress fracture.

"She's such a talent, such a gutsy runner," Krieger said.

Another first-team all-OVC runner in 2005, Jen Caywood, graduated, but the Redhawks return sophomores Brittni Peck, Amy Warren and Juli Koenegstein, along with junior Sarah Verelst.

Peck and Warren had the top finishes at the OVC meet among that group, 23rd and 28th, respectively.

Five freshmen round out the team, including walk-on Linnea Woldtvedt from Central High School. The other first-year runners are Jordan Boles, Stephanie Harres, Jacqueline Risley and Sarah Johnson from Ste. Genevieve.

Eastern Kentucky's men and Samford's women are the defending OVC cross country champions.

"This fall will be a little bit of a blur, a journey," Krieger said. "We just need to work hard and they've already done that. I couldn't ask for a better group of athletes."