Of all the essential elements to the Marquette women's cross country team, experience and senior leadership are the least enigmatic. No one is more important to the Golden Eagles' success than senior Jodi Jakubek.

A pivotal member of both the cross country and track team for more than three years, Jakubek has stayed the course in her senior season, knowing this is her last chance to win a national title.

"I always remind myself this is my senior year and I will not have another year to reach my goals," Jakubek said. "But I also think I do a lot better racing when I don't put a lot of pressure and stress on myself and just go out and race."

In this final season of her collegiate career, she has placed no lower than third for the Golden Eagles and 40th overall. Coach David Uhrich will undoubtedly need a similar performance from Jakubek at Pre-Nationals this weekend in Terre Haute, Ind.

"Jodi, along with other seniors, has set an example to the rest of the team as to how to prepare for the bigger meets and how to handle the expectations of being a nationally ranked team," Uhrich said.

According to Jakubek, preparations for Pre-Nationals include eating and sleeping right, smart training and talking as a team about running to their potential. In simpler terms, Jakubek means they must run the way they have all year.

"We don't need to go out there and do something amazing to place well, but just maintain how well we have been running together as teammates in our previous races," added Jakubek.

The Golden Eagles will run Saturday at LaVerne Gibson Course in the 6K race. The 'B' team will also run in the Wisconsin-Parkside Invitational in Kenosha, which is a 5K race.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 13, 2005.