JCU coaches Christin Handley (second from left), Kyle Basista (second from right) and Dara Ford (right) warm up with Gabriella Kreuz (left) and Caroline Kapela (middle) prior to Kreuz competing in the National Championship.
For the second time in five years, the John Carroll cross country coaching staff has been recognized as the OAC Women's Coaching Staff of the Year.
Led by sixth-year head coach Dara Ford along with co-head coach
Kyle Basista and graduate assistant Christin Handley, JCU placed 12th overall out of 42 teams, third in Division III at the All-Ohio Championship. The biggest highlight of the season for the Blue Streaks was capturing their first OAC title since 1991. There were five runners in the top 10 who earned All-OAC honors.
Ford and her staff also received accolades from the OAC during the 2011 cross country season when they were selected the OAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year on the men's side behind third place finish at the OAC meet, John Carroll's best finish in the conference meet, and two team titles including the first in over a decade. The staff received the Women's OAC Coaching Staff of the Year accolades in 2009.
The Blue Streaks rounded out the season with a ninth-place team finish at the Great Lake Regional. Individually, senior
Gabriella Kreuz capped the season earning All-American honors by placing 26th at the NCAA Division III National Championship.
