2002 Women's Cross Country Outlook

08/30/02

- The William and Mary women’s cross country team looks to build on a strong 2001 campaign as it attempts to get back to the top of the Colonial Athletic Association standings and compete in the NCAA Championships in 2002.

With the nucleus of last year’s team returning, led by three runners who achieved NCAA qualifying track times, the Tribe’s outlook for this year is promising. When you add in the return of two runners who did not compete last fall, plus an incoming freshman class full of potential, it is easy to see why the College is excited about the season.

“We’ve never had the potential going into a cross country season like we have right now,” Tribe women’s cross country coach Pat Van Rossum said.

Leading the way for W&M are senior Cheryl Bauer and juniors Ali Henderson and Maura McMahon. The three runners, all of who were all-conference selections last year, will be counted on to lead the Tribe in 2002.

Bauer, the team’s captain, finished third at the conference meet and was the Tribe’s top runner at all but one competition last year. She also added national-level track times to her resume last spring.

Henderson, meanwhile, battled back from a bout with anemia to finish the cross country season on a high note, placing 11th at the CAA meet. She then proceeded to build on her cross country success with an excellent track season, setting two school records.

McMahon, on the other hand, was one of the leaders of last year’s squad in just her second season. She finished as either the No. 1 or No. 2 runner for the Tribe in each of her last five meets in 2001. In the spring, she added a second place ECAC performance to her credentials.

Rounding out the Tribe’s upperclassmen depth is Lara Toscani, who ran No. 2 or 3 for W&M in all her races last year. She earned all-conference accolades in each of her first two seasons and looks for another strong showing in her junior campaign.

W&M also returns last year’s CAA Rookie of the Year, Jackie Kosakowski. As a true freshman, Kosakowski started the season on fire, running No. 2 for W&M in the first two meets of the year on her way to All-CAA honors.

When looking for other possible contributors this year, remember the names of Emily Halm and Tara Guelig.

Halm has perhaps more potential than any other runner on the squad. After a freshman season that saw her miss the NCAA championships by just four seconds, Halm sat out last season as a medical redshirt. But if she runs to her potential, there is no doubt that she’s a national-level runner.

Guelig, who missed the 2001 cross country season because she was studying abroad in Costa Rica, is an assistant captain who had a very solid and consistent performance for the Tribe in 2000.
Other runners who gained valuable experience last year and can be expected to contribute to this year’s squad include junior Katrina Menard, and sophomores Ruth Loyer, Sarah Wells, Erin Masterson and Sarah Roessler.

In addition to the returnees, the incoming freshmen class should yield some strong performances in 2002. Freshmen Jessica Allred, Lauren Heron, Karen Pulliam and Kristyn Shiring all look to contribute immediately to the Tribe’s run for a conference title.

After a 2001 campaign that saw the Tribe finish second in the conference and sixth out of 30 teams in the NCAA Southeast Region, Van Rossum is very optimistic about this year’s team.

“On the women’s side, the Southeast is the toughest and deepest region in the country,” Van Rossum said. “We’re looking to build on last year’s showing, and we’re confident we can move up on that.”

With the lineup that is assembled, there’s reason to believe that William and Mary will fulfill the 2002 goal of a conference championship and an NCAA appearance.

“This is a very elite and unique team,” Van Rossum said. “The potential is limitless.”