Cross Country Season Preview

At the outset of the 2007 season, The College of Saint Rose cross country teams have developed a new motto, which is to “never be satisfied.” The Golden Knights men’s and women’s squads have been tabbed “teams on the rise” in recent years and are in the midst of taking the next step towards becoming a mainstay in the Northeast Region. The women’s club, which is ranked fourth in the NCAA preseason regional poll, returns six letterwinners from a team that recorded its best finish ever at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships with a sixth place showing. To that group, which is represented by only one senior, fifth-year head coach Andrew Rickert has added six front line recruits that will allow the future of Saint Rose women’s cross country to remain very bright. Meanwhile, the men’s team returns seven letterwinners from a year ago and will rely on a pair of veterans to help improve on its 10th place finish at the league championship meet. It is safe to say that the best days of Saint Rose cross country are not far away.

Women’s Returnees (6)
One senior, one junior and a group of sophomores who were all major contributors a year ago are poised to finish among the top-five teams in the region at season’s end. Sophomore Melissa Bredice (Colonie, NY/Colonie) and junior co-captain Joanne Smith (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) will provide the club with excellent leadership and consistency throughout the year. Bredice, who was the top Saint Rose finisher on three occasions last year, led the squad with a 20:35 clocking to take 34th at the NE-10 meet. Smith, who was a second-team All-Conference selection as a freshman, was the team’s top finisher in three consecutive meets.

Sophomores Emily Medeiros (Saranac, NY/Saranac) and Nikki Madden (Bellmore, NY/Sacred Heart) also return with another year of experience. Medeiros was one of only two athletes on the squad to compete in all eight events last season. She recorded a personal-best 5k time of 20:49 to finish just behind Bredice at the NE-10 meet. Medeiros was also the top Saint Rose finisher at the NCAA Northeast Regional. Madden is coming off a good summer of training and was among the top-five finishers on the club in every meet she competed in.

Senior co-captain Jessica Kosowicz (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) participated in four meets after battling injuries most of last season. She ran a season-best 5k time of 22:18 at the NE-10 Championships. Additionally, sophomore Abby Ingraham (Grafton, NY/Berlin) took part in six events last year and clocked her personal-best in the 5k at the league meet.

Women’s Newcomers (6)
The list of young talent is made up of six freshmen, giving the squad only two upperclassmen on the roster. Meghan Coffey (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and Meaghan Lucie (West Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) are expected to be key contributors throughout their rookie campaigns. Coffey competed at the New York State and Federation meets throughout all four years of high school and was an All-League pick each year. Meanwhile, Lucie came into the preseason in great shape and should also vie for a spot in the top-five, which could change on any given day with the make-up of this squad. Lucie was a three-time All-State selection and competed at the Federation meet during all three years.

Courtney DeLorenzo (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) has the potential to break into the Saint Rose top-five early and often. As a member of the track team at Guilderland, DeLorenzo is part of the school record 4x800 indoor relay squad.

Also joining a competitive recruiting class are Monica Hastedt (South Onondaga, NY/Onondaga), Melissa Gordon (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) and Alison Vogelien (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville). Hastedt is a prototypical trail runner who was a first-team All-League performer at Onondaga. She also captured the sectional championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Gordon is coming off an injury, but could have an impact if she stays healthy. She was named a Colonial Council All-Star during all four years of competition. Vogelien is relatively new to the sport having been a mainstay on the track team at Voorheesville. She captured a pair of individual sectional titles in the triple jump and long jump to cap off her high school career.

Men’s Returnees (8)
A pair of senior co-captains in Pat Cullen (Staatsburg, NY/F.D. Roosevelt) and Brad Lewis (Troy, NY/Troy) will direct the Golden Knights in a variety of ways. The duo will be relied on heavily to be focused leaders and battle each other for the top Saint Rose finish at every event. Cullen, who “red-shirted” in 2006, led the Golden Knights six times during his sophomore campaign. He was twice named NE-10 Male Athlete of the Week and earned a spot on the NE-10 All-Academic squad. Lewis, who has garnered two straight NE-10-Academic selections, was the top Saint Rose runner in seven of eight meets a year ago. He also earned the NCAA II Cross Country All-Academic Award from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The sophomore class is comprised of five returnees who turned in solid efforts a year ago and learned a lot as first-year competitors. Joe Coleman (Colonie, NY/Colonie) made great strides in his rookie season and finished third for the Golden Knights five times. He ran a personal-best 8k time of 29:23 at the league meet despite being a relative newcomer to the sport. Classmate Kevin Flynn (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) was one of only two athletes to compete in all eight events last season and was a top-five Saint Rose finisher every time he ran. His personal-best time of 29:23 came at the Second Annual Golden Knights Joust where he placed ninth.

Tyler Gantz (Rosendale, NY/Rondout Valley) did not dress in 2006, but brings a great deal of potential after a good summer of training. Zach Phelps (Homer, NY/Homer) could find himself among the top-seven runners after competing in all eight events a year ago. His personal-best 8k time of 29:45 at the Joust was a big stepping stone. Also, Matthew Haker (Selkirk, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) enters the regular-season in great shape having appeared in seven meets last year, breaking into the top-five on two occasions.

Junior Nick Wujciak (Corinth, NY/Corinth) will make his return to the club after not competing as a sophomore. During his freshman season, Wujciak competed in all eight events for Saint Rose and was one of the top-five runners at five meets. He established a personal-best in the 8k with a time of 28:57.

Men’s Newcomers (5)
One of the more highly regarded newcomers on the roster is sophomore transfer Orlando Rivera (Garnerville, NY/North Rockland). Rivera, who arrives via Florida International University, was a four-time High School All-American in the mile. He will be a good complement to some of the long distance runners on the squad.

Freshman Christopher Allin (Troy, NY/Catholic Central), one of many local products on the squad, could have an impact after getting used to the 8k distance at the collegiate level. He was captain of both the cross country and track and field teams at Catholic Central. Sophomore Greg Clark (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) is a newcomer to cross country having played football, basketball and baseball at V-V-S. Clark will learn a great deal in the upcoming season and his competitive drive will allow him to make tremendous strides throughout the year.

Senior Kyle Millington (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) and freshman Patrick Kennedy (Albany, NY/Colonie) complete the Golden Knights roster. Millington was a track and field standout at nearby Guilderland, while Kennedy is another local product who competed for fellow Suburban Council program Colonie.

Schedule
The 2007 campaign gets rolling on Saturday, September 1 when Saint Rose heads to the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate University. The Golden Knights will spend the following three Saturday’s at Vassar, NYU and Bryant before hosting the Third Annual Golden Knights Joust on Friday, October 5 at The Crossings in Loudonville. The Albany Invitational will commence on Saturday, October 13 as Saint Rose makes its final preparations for the championship portion of the schedule. The NE-10 Championships will arrive with great anticipation on Sunday, October 21 as Stonehill College hosts the league meet. Finally, the Golden Knights will have nearly two weeks off before traveling down to the Bronx for the NCAA Northeast Regional on Saturday, November 3.

Summation
Realistically, the women’s team has its best chance in recent years to compete with the likes of perennial powers Stonehill, UMass Lowell and Bentley. The six newcomers represent one of the top recruiting classes the College has seen and the six returnees still have a bitter taste about their regional finish in 2006. Staying healthy remains the name of the game in this grueling sport and if all 24 athletes are having a good day on the course, the sky is the limit for both squads. On the men’s side, Lewis and Cullen will likely contend for the top Saint Rose finish at every meet. A place inside the top-10 clubs at the NE-10 meet is definitely in sight with a group of underclassmen that complement each other well.