Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

7/11/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC cross country coach adds track and field to his duties

OVERLAND PARK, KS --  Johnson County Community College athletics director Carl Heinrich announced today head cross country coach Mike Bloemker will assume the duties as head men’s and women’s track and field coach as well. Bloemker replaces Joe Weis, who stepped down after six seasons to run the JCCC fitness center in the physical education department.

As only the second head coach in the history of the Johnson County Community College cross country program, Bloemker has upheld the JCCC  tradition of excellence as the Cavaliers’ harrier program continues to rank among the nation’s best.

Bloemker has found tremendous success while at JCCC. As he enters his 11th season at the helm, Bloemker has taken the Cavaliers to heights never before achieved in JCCC’s proud cross country history. Under his watchful eye, Cavalier cross country and half marathon runners have earned 34 All-American citations, two individual national champions and two Region VI champions. Additionally, an individual from the JCCC women’s team has won eight of nine individual conference titles, while a male JCCC competitor has been crowned champion three times over that span.

There have been many memorable appearances by Cavalier teams at the NJCAA cross country meets, including a national champion by the women in 2000, and  five runner-up finishes, three by the women and two by the men.  Bloemker has won 16 of the 20 possible East Jayhawk Conference titles, captured five Region VI titles and finished runner-up six times. Eighteen of his 20 cross country teams have registered a top-10 national finish, including 10 top five finishes.

In half marathon national championships, Bloemker has won more national championships than any coach in the country, leading his women’s teams to half marathon national titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006. The other three championships his team has competed, JCCC has finished second.  While his men’s teams have not won a title, they have finished runner-up in three championships, and finished third in 2007.

During his tenure at Johnson County, Bloemker has played an integral part in along list of track team accomplishments:  won seven top-five NJCAA team trophies at national competitions; led 20 indoor and outdoor track teams to top-10 national finishes; captured the East Jayhawk Conference crown 21 times and the men and women have each won four conference triple crowns under his tenure.

On the track, JCCC distance runners and relay teams have earned 273 All-American honors, won seven national championships, 35 individual Region VI titles, and 275 individual conference titles under his leadership. In 2003 at the NJCAA Indoor Championships under Bloemker’s tutelage, Lyudmila Anderson completed one the greatest performances in history, winning three events and was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Meet. In addition, Amy Gochnour registered a second, third and fourth place finish in those three events. At the 2005 NJCAA Indoor Championships, Bloemker coached 15 All-America athletes, including a national champion 4x800 relay and runner-up distance medley relay. In 2007, he had athletes earn 42 All-America certificates, including Christa Heideman who garnered seven during the indoor and outdoor season.  In 2008, Bloemker’s athletes garnered 26 All-America honors, 18 at the indoor championships.

When Bloemker was hired to succeed NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Dave Burgess, he was not a stranger to coaching at the collegiate level nor to the hard work it takes to build a first-rate program.  In the fall of 1996, Bloemker began a cross country program from scratch at Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit, Mo. A year later, he led his team to two first-place meet finishes and to a 13th-place finish at the NJCAA Division II  National Championship.

With over 20 years experience as a runner, Bloemker might best be noted for his work at HealthPlus. From 1989 to 1995, he served as assistant running coordinator under the late Tom Dowling, who was a former Olympic Development coach and one of Kansas City’s most successful running coaches.

In 1995, he was promoted to running coordinator. During his tenure at HealthPlus, Bloemker has been instrumental in helping numerous high school athletes qualify for and win state titles. Among those athletes are former JCCC harriers Nick Luft and  Vince Kane. Bloemker also played a key role in the development of Amanda Pape, a Footlocker finalists, four-time state champion and Junior Pan American Game qualifier; Stephan Pro, a three-time state champion who ran a 9:09 two-mile at the state meet;  Amy Hastings, a three-time Kansas 6A state champing, who ran a personal best of 17:16 for 5,000-meters, and 10:33 for 3,200-meters; and Elle Pishny, a Kansas 6A state champion in the 3,200-meters. During his tenure at HealthPlus, Bloemker has coaches seven high school girls who have run under 11:00 for two miles, and four boys under 9:20 for two miles. As running coordinator at HealthPlus, Bloemker’s main duties are to design and implement individualized off-season running programs.

Bloemker earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1995 from Central Missouri State University, and his master’s of education from the University of St. Mary in 2005.