2003 Women's Cross Country Outlook

08/23/03 1:00PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - After an impressive showing in 2002, the 2003 William and Mary women’s cross country team appears to have the ability to top the accomplishments of last season. Although the Tribe lost two solid seniors to graduation, the returning athletes showed vast improvement in the track seasons. Additionally, the squad will be supplemented with talented freshmen, expected to help W&M rise in the national rankings.

“We have the nucleus to be very good,” observed head coach Pat Van Rossum. “We can surpass what we did last year at the NCAAs, plus we have a goal to win the conference.”

Leading the way for the Tribe are senior tri-captains Ali Henderson, Maura McMahon and Lara Toscani. The trio brings the squad a wealth of experience competing at the national level. Henderson, a two-time All-American, was the Tribe’s number one runner each time she competed last year. Leading the Tribe to a 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Championship, Henderson crossed the finish line in 38th place, earning All-America honors. Additionally, Henderson earned all-region honors, finishing eighth at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet. She displayed the uncanny ability to improve each time she stepped up to compete, as witnessed by her incredible 2003 season which saw her earn All-America honors in the indoor 5,000m and set the school record in the 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

McMahon has been a mainstay in the Tribe’s cross country program in each of the last three years. An All-Southeast and all-conference performer, she placed 23rd at the regional championships and third at the CAA Championship. McMahon placed 80th at the NCAA Championship as the second W&M runner to cross the finish line. On the track, she has achieved NCAA qualifying times and has been an ECAC runner-up in the 10,000m.

Toscani, a two-time all-conference honoree, achieved three top-15 finishes last season, including a fifth-place showing at the Colonial Invitational and 13th place at the CAA Championship. Toscani’s competitive nature and experience racing at demanding meets will position her as one of the team’s leaders in the 2003 season.

Emily Halm, Katrina Menard and Kristin McGough all enter the 2003 season with senior eligibility in cross country and will help add depth to the squad. Halm, the 2000 CAA Rookie of the Year and former all-region honoree, won the Tribe’s dual meet against Navy to open the 2002 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Menard, who redshirted the last cross country season, ran in the top-nine for the Tribe in each race of the 2001 campaign. After a solid 2003 track season, which included the CAA title in the 10,000m and an ECAC qualification, she has laid the groundwork for her finest season. Only competing once in 2002 due to an injury, McGough’s leadership and work ethic will help the team in practice and meets. She will look to be a solid contributor with injury-free training.

With experience competing at the NCAA Championship, a solid group of veterans will look to continue to improve. Junior Jackie Kosakowski, an all-conference honoree, was the fourth W&M runner to cross the finish line at NCAAs. The third Tribe runner at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet, Kosakowski placed 42nd in the region. In track, she has earned All-East accolades and achieved NCAA Regional qualification standards, showing her talent and competitive nature.

Sophomores Lauren Heron and Kristyn Shiring had impressive rookie campaigns. Shiring was the third Tribe finisher at the NCAA Championship, was the 65th finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet and earned all-conference honors in her first conference championship. Also earning all-conference honors at the CAA Championships, Heron finished 85th at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Competing in her first cross country season, Heron’s experience competing at NCAAs, along with her NCAA Regional track experience, is expected to help her improve in years to come.

The junior class returns several experienced runners. Meredith Holaday, Ruth Loyer, Erin Masterson, Sarah Roessler, Drew Saylor, Becca Velarde and Sarah Wells are expected to move into leadership roles and rely upon their experience to lead to further improvements. Masterson finished 15th at the CAA Championship and was the second Tribe finisher in the Colonial Invitational. She has also been a strong middle distance track runner for the Tribe. Roessler and Saylor showed solid improvement last year, as both placed in the conference during the outdoor track season and look to bring that experience to cross country. Holaday and Loyer have great potential and have strong middle distance achievements, which they hope to convert to cross country. Velarde competed at the conference championship last year and shows signs of great potential. Wells brings strong high school accolades to the table and looks to return to that form.

With an important year of experience, the Tribe sophomore runners will look for even greater contributions. Jessica Allred, Loren Cutright, Karen Pulliam and Shelly Knewstep had impressive showings in their rookie cross country campaigns. Allred finished 20th in both the Colonial Invitational and the Tribe Open and notched a 15th-place finish in the Navy Invitational. Cutright achieved a 25th-place finish at the Colonial Invitational. Pulliam finished 26th at the CAA Championship as the Tribe’s 10th runner while Knewstep placed 31st at the Navy dual meet.

A talented incoming freshmen class, which boasts All-American and state champion accolades, will boost the Tribe’s efforts. Meghan Bishop, Julia Cathcart, Christy Dannenberg, Amy Maier, Heather Stevenson, Kate Willever, and Jessica Wolfe will aim to make an immediate impact for the Tribe.

With an impressive incoming rookie class, the Tribe will count on its experienced upperclassmen to direct the talented group to compete at a national-caliber level. “Our goal is to return to the NCAAs, and with the team we have assembled, we have all the pieces to do that,” Van Rossum concluded.