NDSU Set to Host North Central Conference Championship Meet Oct. 18
10/14/2003 5:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
The North Dakota State women's cross country team is scheduled to host the 2003 NCC Championships Saturday, Oct. 18 at Rose Creek Golf Course in Fargo. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. The Bison look to overtake last year's champion, the University of South Dakota. In 2002, NDSU finished the NCC meet in fourth place. The Bison have won the meet six times, the most recent coming in 1999. The 6,000 meter course is flat, with a few ups and downs. The women will have to run two loops in order to finish the race.
On Oct. 24, the Bison travel to Brookings, SD, for the Jackrabbit Invitational hosted by South Dakota State. Meet time is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be held at Edgebrook Golf Course. On Nov. 8, the Bison will compete at the NCAA North Central Regional in Wayne, NE.
Bison Finish 3rd at Wayne State Open; Zirbel Wins 2nd Meet of 2003
Freshman Melinda Zirbel won the individual title, while the North Dakota State women's cross country team finished in third at the Wayne State Open on Oct. 4 in Wayne, NE.
Zirbel, a native of Summit, SD, finished the 6,000 meter course in 22:31 to notch her second victory of the 2003 season. She also won the 2003 Ron Pynn UND Invitational on Sept. 19.
The Bison finished with 80 points behind South Dakota, who scored 45 and Nebraska-Omaha's 73.
Lisa Parizek (Minot, ND) finished the course in 23:41 to end in 12th place, while teammate Carrie Mueller (Watertown, SD) finished in 13th place with a time of 23:49.
Kourtney Joyce (Wadena, MN) finished in a time of 24:19 for a 25th place spot and Jeni Ching (Estelline, SD) earned 31st place with a time of 24:47. Beth Novak (Grand Forks, ND) rounded out the Bison runners, finishing 34th in a time of 24:55.
Zirbel Named NCC Cross Country Athlete of the Week September 23
North Dakota State's Melinda Zirbel, a freshman from Summit, SD was named the North Central Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Sept. 23. Zirbel won the UND Ron Pynn Invitational on Sept. 19. She finished the 5,200-meter course in a time of 19:34 and helped the Bison win the team title. It was the first time winning the award for the Bison harrier.
Head Coach Ryun Godfrey
Ryun Godfrey is in his fifth season as the head North Dakota State University women's cross country and track & field coach. He is the seventh coach in the 36-year history of the program.
Godfrey directed NDSU to the 2002 NCAA Division II indoor track & field national title and a runner-up finish at the 2002 outdoor track & field nationals. The 31-year-old swept up six coaching awards for his efforts that year, being named the USTCA (United States Track Coaches Association) Division II and North Central Region Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year, and the North Central Conference Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year. He was named Regional Indoor Co-Coach of the Year and NCC Indoor Coach of the Year in 2003, and later tabbed NCC Outdoor Co-Coach of the Year.
Godfrey was also the 2001 USTCA North Central Region Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, 2000 and 2001 NCC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, and 1999 NCC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Named the 2002 North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's Female Team Coach of the Year, Godfrey has captured four straight indoor and outdoor North Central Conference track titles in four years at NDSU. In his first year with the cross country squad, he led the Bison to the 1999 NCC championship. His 2001 distance crew was third in the league and 12th in the nation.
Godfrey's track & field teams have finished nationally no lower than third indoors and sixth outdoors.
Godfrey graduated from NDSU in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He was an all-conference middle-distance runner for the Thundering Herd before becoming a graduate assistant coach from 1997-1998 and a full-time assistant from 1999-2000. Godfrey is also USA Track & Field Level II certified and a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist.
On Oct. 24, the Bison travel to Brookings, SD, for the Jackrabbit Invitational hosted by South Dakota State. Meet time is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be held at Edgebrook Golf Course. On Nov. 8, the Bison will compete at the NCAA North Central Regional in Wayne, NE.
Bison Finish 3rd at Wayne State Open; Zirbel Wins 2nd Meet of 2003
Freshman Melinda Zirbel won the individual title, while the North Dakota State women's cross country team finished in third at the Wayne State Open on Oct. 4 in Wayne, NE.
Zirbel, a native of Summit, SD, finished the 6,000 meter course in 22:31 to notch her second victory of the 2003 season. She also won the 2003 Ron Pynn UND Invitational on Sept. 19.
The Bison finished with 80 points behind South Dakota, who scored 45 and Nebraska-Omaha's 73.
Lisa Parizek (Minot, ND) finished the course in 23:41 to end in 12th place, while teammate Carrie Mueller (Watertown, SD) finished in 13th place with a time of 23:49.
Kourtney Joyce (Wadena, MN) finished in a time of 24:19 for a 25th place spot and Jeni Ching (Estelline, SD) earned 31st place with a time of 24:47. Beth Novak (Grand Forks, ND) rounded out the Bison runners, finishing 34th in a time of 24:55.
Zirbel Named NCC Cross Country Athlete of the Week September 23
North Dakota State's Melinda Zirbel, a freshman from Summit, SD was named the North Central Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Sept. 23. Zirbel won the UND Ron Pynn Invitational on Sept. 19. She finished the 5,200-meter course in a time of 19:34 and helped the Bison win the team title. It was the first time winning the award for the Bison harrier.
Head Coach Ryun Godfrey
Ryun Godfrey is in his fifth season as the head North Dakota State University women's cross country and track & field coach. He is the seventh coach in the 36-year history of the program.
Godfrey directed NDSU to the 2002 NCAA Division II indoor track & field national title and a runner-up finish at the 2002 outdoor track & field nationals. The 31-year-old swept up six coaching awards for his efforts that year, being named the USTCA (United States Track Coaches Association) Division II and North Central Region Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year, and the North Central Conference Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year. He was named Regional Indoor Co-Coach of the Year and NCC Indoor Coach of the Year in 2003, and later tabbed NCC Outdoor Co-Coach of the Year.
Godfrey was also the 2001 USTCA North Central Region Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, 2000 and 2001 NCC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, and 1999 NCC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Named the 2002 North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's Female Team Coach of the Year, Godfrey has captured four straight indoor and outdoor North Central Conference track titles in four years at NDSU. In his first year with the cross country squad, he led the Bison to the 1999 NCC championship. His 2001 distance crew was third in the league and 12th in the nation.
Godfrey's track & field teams have finished nationally no lower than third indoors and sixth outdoors.
Godfrey graduated from NDSU in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He was an all-conference middle-distance runner for the Thundering Herd before becoming a graduate assistant coach from 1997-1998 and a full-time assistant from 1999-2000. Godfrey is also USA Track & Field Level II certified and a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist.
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