Cleveland State University Women's Cross Country

Jaketic will be entering his 12th season at the helm of the Cleveland State cross country team, and will begin the 2016 campaign with a new-look Viking squad that will feature a mix of returners, transfers and newcomers. Among the 2016 returners is the duo of senior Ashlyn Woods and junior Samantha Butterbaugh, - two of the best runners to ever come through the Cleveland State program. Woods, who became the first-ever Viking to earn All-Horizon League honors under Jaketic during the 2015 season, owns program records in both the 5K and 6K races, while Butterbaugh has posted top-12 marks in both distances. Jaketics best season with the Vikings came during the 2011 campaign, when he guided the squad to a fourth place finish at the Horizon League Championship. Cleveland States fourth place finish at the 2011 league championship marked the highest finish in program history. Over his 11 years at the helm of the cross country team, Jaketic has continued to build the program into a Horizon League contender year-in and year-out. He has worked hard on the recruiting trail to bring in student-athletes that not only succeed on the cross country course, but also in the classroom since he has a personal philosophy that academics come first in his program.  During his tenure, 46 student-athletes have earned John Konstantinos Athletic Academic Honors, including 13 who earned the accolade during all four years of their career. Since the 2005 season, the Vikings have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors eight times (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), been named Cleveland States Best of the Best three times (2011, 2010, 2006) and won the Academic Progress Rate Award eight times (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008). Three of Jaketics recruits have also been named Cleveland State Valedictorians, as Brittany Elmlinger earned the honor during Fall 2012, Kelly Zaleski picked up the award during Spring 2013, and Katie Webb earned the honor during Fall 2015. A Cleveland State graduate in 1972, Jaketic has never been able to shake his enthusiasm for the Vikings which has carried over into his professional career. Prior to becoming head coach, Jaketic served as the equipment manager for CSU athletics. He retired from that position in December of 2008 after 37 years. Jaketic ran cross country at Maple Heights High School and spent time running at Ohio University before transferring to run cross country and track at Cleveland State.