Mike Bloemker
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Head Track Coach
University of Central Missouri, '95
2nd season as head coach
12th Season at JCCC
mbloemke@jccc.edu
The Johnson County Community College cross country program, which has a long history of national prominence, may be in the best shape, both internally and externally, as its ever been. And the man in charge of the powerhouse program is head coach Mike Bloemker.
Coming to JCCC in 1998, Bloemker’s charge was simply to maintain the tradition of excellence that had already been in place. But Bloemker obviously was not going to be content with the status quo.
During his tenure, 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 30 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.
In team competition, Bloemker has won 15 of the 18 possible East Jayhawk Conference titles, captured five Region VI titles and finished runner-up five times. Sixteen of his 18 cross country teams have registered a top-10 national finish, including 10 top five finishes, five runner-up finishes and a women’s cross country national championship in 2000.
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 two 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 each of the past three championships.
In his first season, Bloemker led both teams to conference titles. The women went on to post a 10th-place national finish, while the men finished 11th.
In 1999, the men followed their conference championship by winning the Region VI title, and Bloemker was named the Region VI men’s coach of the year. At nationals competing in their first Division II Championship, the men nearly made a clean sweep of their championships, placing second nationally. The women finished a very respectable seventh.
In 2000, the men defended its conference and region titles, raced to its second straight top-three finish, placing third, as two individuals were honored as All-American performers.
The 2000 JCCC women harriers made history, racing to its first ever national championship, as four individuals placed in the top 15, all earning All-American honors.. That proved to be enough to edge Colby Community College and Schoolcraft College for the NJCAA D-II National Championship. It was also sweet revenge for JCCC. Just a week earlier, Colby edged Johnson County to win the Region VI D-II title.
“We actually went to the awards ceremony thinking we finished second,” Bloemker said. “When we heard we won, it was overwhelming. I really think the girls thought they could win, but for it to materialize is amazing. This is the most exciting thing I’ve been around.”
The JCCC women’s and men’s team also were honored as National Champions for the best combined program in the country. This is also a first for the JCCC cross country programs. In addition, Bloemker was honored as the coach of the year by the NJCAA and NJCAA Coaches Association.
In 2001, the men’s team won the conference crown and had five individuals place among the top 10 finishers. At nationals, the Cavaliers registered a fourth-place finish. The Lady Cavaliers also won the conference crown and had five top 10 finishers, including the individual champion Kim Oldaker. She went on to earn All-American, leading JCCC to a fifth-place national finish.
The following season the women’s and men’s programs each posted a runner-up finish at nationals, helping JCCC capture the Pepsi Cup for best combined finishes, the second Cup of Bloemker’s tenure at JCCC. The 2002 season also showcased two of the best competitors in JCCC history. Lyudmila Anderson and Amy Gochnour raced to a one-two finish at nationals. Anderson recorded a cross country hat trick, winning the conference, region and national titles in 2002. She also set school records for top time in history, and the top time in a national championship. She also is the first individual national champion in cross country at JCCC.
In 2003, the women’s team again posted a runner-up national finish, after they captured East Jayhawk Conference and Region VI Championships. Gochnour again was the team’s top performer, placing second overall. She capped her amazing career leading JCCC to a national championship at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships in Wichita, Kan. Gochnour’s back-to-back All-American performances earned a tie with NJCAA and JCCC Hall of Famer Marti Cisper as the school’s most decorated athlete, earning 11 All-America accolades.
The 2003 men’s team registered a fourth-place national finish, and placed second in both the conference and region championships.
In 2004, both teams registered eighth-place finishes in their respective national championships. The men also captured East Jayhawk Conference and Region VI championships, while the women won the conference championship, finished runner-up in the Region VI meet and Bloemker was named the Region VI Men’s Coach of the Year.
The 2005 cross country season resembled a roller coaster ride. While both teams captured East Jayhawk Conference crowns, they followed with disappointing efforts at Nationals, with the women placing ninth, and the men’ 12th overall. However, the JCCC women’s and men’s cross country teams redeemed themselves at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships. Bloemker led the women’s team to its second National Championship, and the men posted its second straight runner-up finish. Additionally, Felicia Fleming and Esther Mathais for the women, and Kory Cool for the men, garnered All-America accolades.
Last fall, Bloemker led both teams to top-10 national finishes in cross country. The Lady Cavaliers finished runner-up to South Plains at the cross country championship, but came away national champions at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship, capturing their third national championship. The men finished 10th overall in cross country, but posted their third straight runner-up finish in half marathon. Christa Heideman and Jackie Jamison each earned All-American in both championships, and James Tong garnered All-American at the Half Marathon Championship. Bloemker also coached the women to a team conference championship and a runner-up finish in the region standings, while the men’ finished second and third respectively in the two championships.
During his tenure at Johnson County, Bloemker has played an integral part in along list of track team accomplishments: won six top-five NJCAA team trophies at national competitions; led 18 indoor and outdoor track teams to top-10 national finishes; captured the East Jayhawk Conference crown 20 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 247 All-American honors, won seven national championships, 35 individual Region VI titles, and 268 individual conference titles under his leadership. In 2003 at the NJCAA Indoor Championships under Bloemker’s tutelage, Lyudmila Anderson completed on 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. Last season, he had athletes earn 42 All-America certificates, including Christa Heideman who garnered seven during the indoor and outdoor season. Along with her two from cross country, she will become the most decorated athlete in JCCC athletics history this year. Heideman was the top American finisher in last year’s cross country championship.
Bloemker favors a philosophy of dedication, commitment, consistency and a desire to compete. He believes that without that, athletes will never reach their potential. He also looks for athletes who are willing to work hard day-in and day-out.
“I expect a lot out of people,” Bloemker said. “They don’t have to be the most talented, but if they work hard and are committed to what I tell them, they will go a long way.”
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.
“Tom influenced my life as both an athlete and coach,” Bloemker said “Everything I’ve learned from my eight years with him has helped me develop into a successful coach.”
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.
Bloemker and his wife, Katherine, reside in Shawnee, Kan.