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Sept. 6, 2004
The Virginia Cavalier cross country teams open up their 2004 season in Williamsburg at the Tribe Open on Friday, September 10 with a goal of having both teams qualify for the NCAA championships. In 2003, the men qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1984, while the women just missed out on their third consecutive berth after two top 20 finishes in 2001-02. Both teams will look to build on last years success, and are ready to return to the top-20 in the nation with a trip to Terre Haute for the NCAA Championships.
The Cavaliers welcome a strong influx of youth that is fit, ready to compete, and talented. “I’m excited about both teams,” said Cavalier head cross country coach Jason Dunn. “We were able to come back to grounds early as a team, and the team bonding that has taken place over the preseason has only bolstered the chemistry amongst our group.” The mix of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance is poised to take the Virginia cross country programs to the next level.
While the women’s roster features 13 underclassmen, there are a number of veterans who have been a part of the resurgence of Virginia cross country who are ready to step up and help the Cavaliers. Leading the way is captain Cheryl Carr, who had a huge breakthrough season in 2003 and is ready to take the Cavaliers back to the NCAA championships. She is joined in a leadership role by co-captain Kara Scanlin, Shannon Hawrylo, Laura Hodges, and Nadia Baadj as these upperclassmen look to help develop their younger teammates. Virginia is thrilled to welcome back Scanlin, who is healthy after a year of injury.
“Obviously, we are excited to have her back,” said Dunn. “Kara’s return to action is sure to be a boost to the squad, and although it may take her a few races to get going, having her in the mix will inspire the rest of her teammates.” The former All-Conference and All-Region performer led Virginia in three races in her rookie campaign. A trio of second years in Angie Saterstad, Kelly Swain and Janine Ricci will also look to step up for the team after strong first-year campaigns. Saterstad ran as the number-one or number-two runner for the Cavaliers in every meet as a true freshman, while Swain scored for the ‘Hoos in the NCAA Southeast Regional meet. Ricci fared well on the track for the ‘Hoos last spring as she qualified for the NCAA regional in the steeplechase, and will look to transfer that success to the cross country course. “With a year of collegiate running under their belts, each of these three ladies should be ready to help us in a big way this fall,” said Dunn.
In addition to the returners, the Cavaliers will be bolstered by a strong class of first-years, including a trio of state champions. Emily Harrison and Jennifer Beury are former Virginia prep rivals who will now push each other as teammates. For the last two years, these two have finished 1-2 at the state meet in the 3200 with Beury winning in ’03 and Harrison taking the crown in ’04. Sara Ensrud was also a state champion last year, as she swept the distance events in Nebraska, taking the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and cross country titles to close out her career. Kristin Milot leads the rest of the Cavalier first-year women, who all hail from Virginia and are ready to help the University back into the nation’s elite.
“We have a really strong first-year class,” said Dunn. “We expect a couple of them to see quite a bit of action, and I am confident that they will be able to help us right away.”
Like their counterparts on the women’s side, the men will feature a host of underclassmen as 18 of the 28 men’s athletes are first- or second-years. The men, however, also return six of the top eight from the 2003 campaign, a sign that more is yet to come for the resurging Cavalier men. “Our goal is to win the ACC Championships and return to NCAAs,” said Dunn.
Leading the way for the Cavaliers is Will Christian, who earned All-Conference and All-Regional honors last year in cross country. The number-one runner for the Hoos for all of the 2003 season, Christian continued his strong year, winning the 5000m at the ACC Outdoor Championships, one day after he turned in a runner-up performance in the 10, 000M distance. His success on the cross country course translated into a great outdoor season, and there is every reason to believe that a return to the trails will show even greater improvement this fall.
Christian will share the captain’s duties with forth-years Dave Vitto and James Atchison, both of whom ran at the NCAA Championships last fall, and bring three years of collegiate experience to the team.
Fifth-year veteran Ryan Neuhart and rising second-year Alex Tatu also both return for Virginia and are coming off strong performances on the track. Tatu turned in one of the top first-year times in school history as he ran 3:46.63 in the 1500M and qualified for NCAA Regionals, while Neuhart scored in the steeplechase at the ACC Championships for the second straight year. Their solid outdoor seasons should place them in good position for another strong cross country campaign.
A pair of transfers will make an immediate impact for the men’s team, as Soeren Lindner and Jeff Eggelston look to continue their collegiate careers in Charlottesville. Eggleston comes to UVa from Iona College where he ran solid times as a freshman with the Gaels, while Lindner comes to Virginia after SMU dropped the Mustangs’ track program. Lindner, a rising third-year, ran the third fastest steeplechase time in the country last year, and made the final at the NCAA championships. “Both Lindner and Eggleston have solid experience that will make them great additions to our program,” said Dunn.
Three very talented first-years will add depth to the men’s team, in James Erickson, Sam Fletcher, and Ryan Murphy. Erickson ran a 4:16.43 in the mile as a prep in Michigan, while Fletcher earned All-American honors indoors in the 800m, and was also the state runner-up in cross country in his native Maine. Murphy, hailing from Maryland, is a multiple-time state champion in the 1600 and the 3200.
“There is no question that we are a young team,” said Dunn,” but we are also a solid team. We should have a good mix of experienced veterans and talented underclassmen, while the overall depth of the program will be evident throughout the season.”