2008 Woodie Awards
Cross-country looks to achieve conference success on local soil
Clif Duquette '08
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
This weekend, the Saint Joseph's men's and women's cross country teams' will have their most important meet of the season thus far. It will be exactly what they have worked hard for throughout the fall.
And luckily for the Hawks, these important moments will come right near their nest.
St. Joe's will be the lucky host of the annual Atlantic 10 Championships on Saturday at Belmont Plateau, only two miles away from campus. The men and women will both be competing for their first A-10 title since 2000, and they have an opportunity on a course on which they have worked out frequently.
"We are very happy to have the meet at Belmont this year and be the team that hosts the race," said George Wittmann, '10. "We are very familiar with the course, which is a good advantage to have. A lot of friends, students, and St. Joe's alums will be at the race Saturday, so it definitely gives us motivation to run well."
That motivation will be essential, as the men will have to beat 13 other schools if they are to come out on top for the first time in seven years and improve upon their sixth-place finish last year.
Entering the meet, it looks as though the men are right where they were to end last year's season. According to the A-10 Website, the cross country coaches' poll has St. Joe's tied for sixth with Dayton. La Salle, the defending A-10 champion, is ranked first, followed by Duquesne.
The Hawks, though, know that the only rankings that matter are the ones placed after the race.
"We feel that we can finish in the top four or five in the conference," said Wittmann. "If we have some breakout races that are waiting to come out, though, then we can possibly finish higher, perhaps in the top three."
Massachusetts, Charlotte, and Richmond are also ranked ahead of the Hawks.
If St. Joe's is going to run their best at home, then it will have to start from the top. Kyle Murray, '10, after transferring from Lock Haven last year, has been leading the Hawks all season, and he will look to challenge for the individual title at Belmont.
And luckily for the Hawks, these important moments will come right near their nest.
St. Joe's will be the lucky host of the annual Atlantic 10 Championships on Saturday at Belmont Plateau, only two miles away from campus. The men and women will both be competing for their first A-10 title since 2000, and they have an opportunity on a course on which they have worked out frequently.
"We are very happy to have the meet at Belmont this year and be the team that hosts the race," said George Wittmann, '10. "We are very familiar with the course, which is a good advantage to have. A lot of friends, students, and St. Joe's alums will be at the race Saturday, so it definitely gives us motivation to run well."
That motivation will be essential, as the men will have to beat 13 other schools if they are to come out on top for the first time in seven years and improve upon their sixth-place finish last year.
Entering the meet, it looks as though the men are right where they were to end last year's season. According to the A-10 Website, the cross country coaches' poll has St. Joe's tied for sixth with Dayton. La Salle, the defending A-10 champion, is ranked first, followed by Duquesne.
The Hawks, though, know that the only rankings that matter are the ones placed after the race.
"We feel that we can finish in the top four or five in the conference," said Wittmann. "If we have some breakout races that are waiting to come out, though, then we can possibly finish higher, perhaps in the top three."
Massachusetts, Charlotte, and Richmond are also ranked ahead of the Hawks.
If St. Joe's is going to run their best at home, then it will have to start from the top. Kyle Murray, '10, after transferring from Lock Haven last year, has been leading the Hawks all season, and he will look to challenge for the individual title at Belmont.
Be the first to comment on this story