The Colby Echo

Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Rob Kievit

The rapidly-approaching fall season is an open book in which the men's and women's cross country team will write another chapter in the history of their sport.

The women's team changes into this season with a momentum that will be crucial for it to sustain. In the 2004 and 2005 seasons the Lady Mules finished fifth at the national NCAA Division III Championship. While Keene State edged last year's squad from qualifying for Nationals, the Mules did manage to send two individual runners to Nationals. Two-time All-American Karen Prisby '07, who graduated last spring, finished in twelfth place and Anna King '08 placed 57th. The women's team is looking towards King to fill the void left by Prisby's graduation as well as from the notable absence of junior Kathleen Maynard, who is studying abroad.

Despite these losses, the women's team will retain four of its top seven runners. King, last year's consistent second place runner in Colby's line up, is expected to lead the team this season. Middle distance specialists Liz Petit '08 and Devan FitzPatrick '09 are expected to once again make solid contributions in the second and third positions of Colby's top seven; it is too early, however, to discount last year's trio of Mandy Ivey '10, Katrina Gravel '10 and Cassie Knight '10, all of whom could be the vital x-factor for the team. Also in the mix for Colby harriers are tri-captain Sharon Fuller '08, Lane Marder '08, Hannah Taska '09 and Jen MacDowell '09. Talented first-year students include Erin Joyce, Emma Linhard, Jeanne Loftus, Debbie and Judy Merzbach, Kimberly Volkman, and Louise Winslow.

The men's team will be looking from contributions from recruits including seven first-years, whos according to senior stalwart Tim Maguire will be lead by sensation Ben Cunkelman. Watch out for a one-two Maguire punch, as Tim's younger brother Andy has put in a solid summer of training and is looking forward to making a strong college debut. The men further anticipate rookie talent from some upper-classmen who are trying cross-country for the first time, most notably Kyle Smith '08, who began his collegiate athletic career as a football player.

"The team looks a lot different from last year," Maguire said. "We lost the majority of last year's varsity squad." The biggest loss came with the graduation of Dan Vassallo, who placed 111th at last year's National NCAA Division III Championships and is the fastest 10,000 meter runner in Colby history. Vassallo is not the only runner that will be missed. Jeff Alden and John Waller graduated, Michael "Smokey" Collins '08 will forgo cross country in order to focus on nordic ski training, Chris DeRoo '09 injured his toe and Jim Hurder '09 transferred.

With these holes in the top seven squad, Colby harriers are "looking forward to a lot of intra-squad competition to fill in the remaining varsity spots," according to Maguire. Expect to see Maguire, Alex Gill '08, John Hall '09, Dan Moss '08 and Bob Glotfelty gunning for spots on top.

Both the men and the women have their first chance to write this season's history as they run head to head Saturday against Bowdoin College on Colby's Campbell Trails.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools