2004 Men's Cross Country Outlook

09/01/04 3:30PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - William and Mary anticipates another strong season under second-year head coach Alex Gibby. In his first season guiding the team, Gibby proved he can mold young athletes into elite runners and continued the tradition of excellence at the College by repeating as CAA Champion and leading the squad to its seventh-straight NCAA qualification. With a year under his belt, Gibby aims to reach the next level of success. With an impressive amount of veteran depth and a tested group of underclassmen, the Tribe is poised for one of its strongest seasons ever.

Seniors Charlie Hurt, Jeff Hedley, Adam Otstot and Pat Comstock and juniors Matt Keally and Jason Schoener form the foundation of the travel squad. With such a deep pool of talented runners, any one of them could realistically be the team's top runner week to week. This reserve of accomplished all-region and all-conference performers provides a strong springboard for excellent late season finishes.

Keally is primed for a breakout season having already accumulated two all-region honors in cross country. After capturing a CAA title in the 10,000m on the track, the former CAA Rookie of the Year has set his sights on capturing the conference crown on the grass. With his All-East pedigree, he will be at the forefront of the Tribe’s effort. Hurt, the squad’s top finisher at the NCAA Championship in 2003, is another consistent runner coming off an all-region season. With great reliability, Hurt will challenge week-in and week-out for top honors, and with three strong years of running, he provides veteran leadership that will prove immeasurable to the squad. Hedley aims for a breakthrough cross country season to continue the momentum from his outstanding track effort. The senior chopped 41 seconds off his personal record to qualify for the NCAA Championship in the 5,000m, and the All-Southeast performer will look to break similar milestones on the grass. Schoener is a proven asset to the squad, having stepped up nicely last year as a sophomore as he captured fourth at the conference championship. Earning double All-East honors on the track, Schoener is ready to fill one of the top spots on the team after finishing as the second Tribe runner at the NCAA Championship last year. Otstot will aim to continue his steady progression as a runner. Last season was his finest ever, culminating with all-conference honors and the CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Having competed twice at the NCAA Championship for the Green and Gold, he will be an invaluable source of national-level experience. Comstock looks to end his career in strong fashion. He improved greatly over last season, earning All-CAA honors for the first time in his career and racing as the College’s fifth runner at the NCAA Championship.

Five accomplished underclassmen will mount a strong charge at making the scoring five. Sophomores David Murphy, Keith Bechtol and Adam Tenerowicz and redshirt freshmen Jonna Reinhardt and Steve Hoogland all made great impacts last season and are ready to assume leading roles. Murphy, the CAA Rookie of the Year, made a strong debut at the CAA Championship, finishing seventh, and impressed further at the Southeast Regional, claiming 40th. Bechtol, who showed his potential by leading the team at the IC4A Cross Country Championship, truly made his mark during the track season as a double conference champion. The fastest American junior in the 10,000m, Bechtol blazed to victory in the 5,000m at CAAs and 10,000m at IC4As before capping his season with a qualification in the 10,000m for the World Junior Championships. Reinhardt redshirted last season, but won the Cavalier Open competing unattached and also claimed victory in the steeplechase at the CNU Invitational during the track season as an unattached runner. Tenerowicz impressed with a strong debut, finishing ninth and sixth in his first two collegiate races. He then continued his progression on the track as the fifth-fastest American junior in the 10,000m, placing ninth in that distance at IC4As. Already an all-conference performer, Hoogland redshirted the cross country season but gained experience as an unattached runner at several meets. He impressed on the track, capturing second in the CAA 10,000m with an IC4A qualifying time.

Complementing this formidable front is a deep pool of experienced veterans who could break out and contribute. Junior Sean Anastasia-Murphy was an All-East performer in cross country as a freshman and returns after a redshirt season aiming to earn more accolades. Senior Jon Healey has proven to be a consistent CAA scorer in track and aims to find the same groove in cross country. Junior Mike Dominguez has shown steady improvement on the track, earning All-CAA honors in the steeplechase, and will look to break-out on the grass this season. Senior Kyle Pawlaczyk brings championship experience to the team as a veteran of both the CAA and IC4A championships.

Several underclassmen could separate from the pack and threaten for a spot among the scoring five. Sophomore Dan Nally made the travel squad on several occasions last season, including running for the Tribe at the CAA Championship. A tough and durable worker, the CAA scorer in the 10,000m should make great strides this season. Additionally, redshirt freshmen Anthony Arena, David Hryvniak, Joel Parker and Tim Zeckser all had the opportunity to compete last season as unattached runners and will look to make an impact in their first season of collegiate running. Arena already has impressed as an All-CAA performer in the steeplechase while Parker is a proven CAA scorer.

Middle distance aces Matt Wolak, Matt Warco, Bill Tarantino, Graham Kearney, Spencer Kirk and Steve Gillard could also be called upon to contribute in cross country. Wolak heads this formidable contingent that includes conference champions and All-East performers as a two-time All-East honoree and CAA Champion in the 800m. Wolak gained some experience on the grass as an unattached runner in 2003 and has great potential to contribute in cross country. Warco, also an All-East honoree, performed solidly in his only cross country race as a freshman, which was the first cross country race he had ever contested. With greater experience, he should turn heads as he improves. Tarantino will be aiming for a strong return to the cross country distances after concentrating his efforts on the track the past few seasons. He competed on the grass as a freshman and with his All-East credentials should be considered a threat. Kearney, who ran to several solid finishes in his first year of competition, impressed on the track as a CAA scorer in the 1,500m and has great range from 800m to 10,000m which will allow him to contribute in cross country. Gillard aims to build off a track season which saw him run on the Tribe’s CAA scoring 4x400m relay while Kirk redshirted both cross country and track last year.

Gibby welcomes perhaps the most decorated incoming class in Tribe history to further bolster this already menacing lineup. Christo Landry, David Groff, Ian Fitzgerald, Rob Dennis, David Mock and Jared Campbell highlight the rookies, all of whom bring championship accolades to the program. Landry, Groff and Dennis all found success at the NSICs while Landry, Fitzgerald, Mock and Campbell all recorded top-20 finishes at their respective Foot Locker Cross Country Regionals. James Picard joins the Tribe as a sophomore, transferring from Hampton as a proven MEAC scorer. Also joining the Tribe are Zach Bradford, Ollie Ehlinger, Ryan Jones, Karl Lang, Andrew Press, Sam Rhodes, Steve Waite and Bryce Wilk, all of whom are accomplished high school runners who count numerous state championships and all-conference selections among their many credits.

With this injection of pedigreed young talent complementing Gibby’s field of proven veterans, the Tribe is poised for another stellar season. With a potent mix of talent and experience, W&M has all the tools to capture its 12th CAA Championship and qualify for an amazing eighth-consecutive NCAA Championship.