Stimulating Interest
Crusader Cross Country Rosters Grow Under Brandts,
Unveil 1998 Men's, Women's Harriers at Leb Valley Sat.
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - New co-head coaches Jim and Karen Brandt - husband and wife - haven't wasted much time in making an impact on the Susquehanna University men's and women's cross country teams with their enthusiasm.
Under the Brandts' enthusiastic leadership, the 10 men and 16 women's runners have been going through some rigorous preseason workouts to get ready for the 1998 season. Those rosters include some talented freshmen and mature veterans who the Brandts hope can improve each team's standing in the Middle Atlantic Conference by season's end.
"The student-athletes have been just great to work with so far. They are all very coachable and do exactly what we ask them to do," said Karen.
"I thought we had a good showing in our scrimmage (with Dickinson and Elizabethtown) last week, particularly from some freshmen. I think we all know we still have a lot of work ahead of us though," said Jim.
The Brandts will officially unveil their new teams this Saturday, September 12, at the Lebanon Valley College Invitational.
MEN'S OUTLOOK
The men's team finished ninth in the conference last season. Although their numbers have slipped from 13 to 10 this season, the Brandts believe there is talent enough to make both some individual and team improvments.
Freshman Jacob Trevino of nearby Danville High School had the best finish at last Thursday's scrimmage with Dickinson and Elizabethtown and is presently the team's number one runner.
Junior captain Jeff Talerico (Shenandoah/Cardinal Brennen H.S.) should top the group from a leadership standpoint and was 47th last season at the MAC Championships. He also had a best time of 29:47.l over the 8,000-meter course at the Dickinson Invitational, and should improve upon that this season.
Also returning is two-year letterwinner and senior Brandon Beaver (Burnham/Indian Valley H.S.), and junior lettermen Joe Palmieri (North Wales/LaSalle College H.S.) and Jamie Yoder (Turbotville/Warrior Run H.S.). Palmieri could be having the best preseason on the team and hopes to be healthier then his injury-plagued rookie year. Yoder, meanwhile, had the best time among the returnees last season with a 29:00.4 at the Gettysburg Invitational.
Peter Feiveson (Princeton, N.J./Princeton H.S.) is a junior transfer from Hofstra University who has been beating some of the returnees and also expected to be a key contributor.
WOMEN'S OUTLOOK
The combination of the new coaches, 11 spirited freshmen, and some key returnees should make the women's team stronger this season, and possibly for years to come. That group would like to win its own Susquehanna Invitational on Saturday, October 3, and also improve upon a 10th at the MAC Championship meet.
With the team's top returning runner studying in England this semester in junior Sara Costello (Palmyra/Palmyra H.S.), a freshmen appears to now be its top runner in Kim Owen (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin H.S.). Owen was captain of the Brandts' Mid-Penn champion girls' team at Lower Dauphin last year.
The leadership role will fall on three-year letterwinner and senior captain Angela Happel (Tuckerton, N.J./Pinelands Regional H.S.). Happel was 11th last year at the Elizabethtown Invitational, and also ran a season best time of 22:37.2 over the 5,000-meter course at Gettysburg.
Junior Renee Lathrop (South Portland, Maine/South Portland H.S.) tops the returnees in terms of performance last season after finishing 26th at MAC Championships and running a season-best time of 20:32.8 at Gettysburg.
Senior Tanya Zelger (Carlisle/Trinity H.S.) is also a two-year returning letterwinner who is looking for improvement this season under the Brandts. Fellow senior Cory Doeringer (Nicholson/Lackawanna Trail H.S.) was studying abroad last fall, but is also a past letterwinner who has been having a good preseason.
Freshman Delina Cefaratti (Topton/Brandywine Heights H.S.) also should be among the team leaders this season.
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