2007 Cross Country Season Preview
The
cross country program enters its twelfth year at Penn State Behrend.
Since their inaugural season in 1996 both the men’s and women’s
teams have enjoyed constant success. Both groups have won an
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) title, the men have
finished in the top twenty at the NCAA regional meet in nine of the
last eleven years, and the women are coming off of a year where they
finished runners-up in the AMCC Championships for a second
consecutive year.
The program enters the 2007 season with high standards. The women return two all-conference runners while the women return with one all-conference runner from last season. Highlighting the women’s side will be AMCC Runner of the Year and team captain Jenny Bailey (Corry/Corry). Baily placed first among her team in every race in the 2005 season and had another impressive year in 2006. She capped off a superb junior season by winning the AMCC Championships and placing thirty-ninth in the NCAA Mideast Regional. The only other returnee for the women will be Lisa Brozewicz (Wattsburg/Seneca) who will join Bailey as team captain in 2007. Brozewicz was the team’s rookie of the year in 2006 and looks to have another stellar season for the Behrend Lions.
Seven incoming freshmen round out the 2007 men’s roster for the Behrend Lions. First-year runners include Emily Berry (Reno/Rocky Grove), Alex Falvo (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny), Elizabeth Keller (Olean, NY/Bradford), Cassandra Manelick (Youngsville/Youngsville), Mallory Souleret (Pittsburgh/Baldwin), Kristin Tuta (McMurray/Peters Township), and Tanisha Wheatley (Saltsburg/Kiski).
“I’m excited about this group,” said
first year head coach Greg Cooper. “Our best ever regional finish for the
men was sixth place. We’re looking to get back to that level again this
year.”
The men’s team is coming off a strong season in which they finished runners-up at the AMCC Championships for a sixth consecutive year. The men will be led by senior team captain Andy Marshall (Brunswick, OH/Brunswick). Marshall was named 2006 Most Improved Runner. Other returning talent for the men’s team includes Kevin Gorny (Erie/McDowell), Andy Iams (Harrison City/Penn Trafford), and Rob Shrawder (New Wilmington/West Middlesex). Last year Gorny was selected for the AMCC All-Conference team and was named Newcomer of the year. AMCC All-Conference selection Iams and Shrawder are sure to have great seasons once again and help the men capture another AMCC Title. “Our men are looking to break the top ten of the regional level,” said Coach Cooper.
These men will be joined by ten newcomers to the 2007 team. They include Matthew Alto (Uniontown, OH/Archbishop Hoban), Bob Cizek (Pittsburgh/Shaler), Justin Depenti (Warren/Warren), Steelton Flynn (Butler/Butler), Mladen Grgic (Erie/McDowell), David Karls (Butler/Butler), Tyler Lyon (Washington/Trinity), Jonathan McKinney (Summerville/Union), Steven Monnie (Butler/Butler), and Ahmed Sami Badri (Dubai/Dubai American Academy).
“We have a lot of new runners for the men and women’s team this year,” said Coach Cooper. “We are going for a win on both sides.”
The 2007 season opens on September 1 at the Westminster Invitational. On September 15 the blue and white will welcome a large field of competitors when they host the annual Behrend Invitational. The schedule is highlighted by the AMCC Championships, which will take place on October 27 on Hilbert’s home course. The NCAA Regional meet will be held on November 10, at Lehigh.