The Daily OrangeSparingly used cross country runners look to use this weekend to improve
By Rachel Stern
Posted: 10/23/09, 1:26 AM EST Section: Sports
For the Syracuse men's and women's cross country teams, this season has the potential to be a special one.
The men and women hold top rankings in program history, at No. 14 and No. 10, respectively, are getting national respect and have high hopes of finishing the season in the Top 10 at Nationals.
But before the potential can turn into reality, the Orange will have a chance to look into its future.
Though the season is seven weeks old, a different crop of runners will don the Orange and Blue at the John Reif Memorial in Ithaca, N.Y., on Friday.
"The Cornell meet is a good meet for our young kids to learn," SU head coach Chris Fox said. "These are the runners we expect to help us in the future."
As the season moves along, the top men and women runners race every other week. With the conclusion of Pre-Nationals last week and the Big East Championships looming in the near future, top runners will stay on campus this weekend to prepare, while future runners will get the opportunity to show what they have.
Some of the men competing are Michael Brocks, Pat Geoghegan and Nat Saviet. For the women, Lynne Mundy, Ari Kasprowicz and Lisa Giacometti will have the chance to race.
"It is a great opportunity for some of the guys who won't be on the Big East team to run this weekend," said Jeff Scull, a veteran runner. "It is a great chance for other runners to step up and prove themselves."
Runners only have one optional day of practice a week, and thus the monotony of running against the same teammates every day can get tiresome.
As a result, both the men and women who will compete this weekend will take full advantage of it.
"It is really all about improving," said sophomore Heather Stephens, who will not make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. "The group running will be excited to compete against other teams and will just use it to get better."
Though the top SU runners will stay home, it is certainly not a time to relax.
The men and women hold top rankings in program history, at No. 14 and No. 10, respectively, are getting national respect and have high hopes of finishing the season in the Top 10 at Nationals.
But before the potential can turn into reality, the Orange will have a chance to look into its future.
Though the season is seven weeks old, a different crop of runners will don the Orange and Blue at the John Reif Memorial in Ithaca, N.Y., on Friday.
"The Cornell meet is a good meet for our young kids to learn," SU head coach Chris Fox said. "These are the runners we expect to help us in the future."
As the season moves along, the top men and women runners race every other week. With the conclusion of Pre-Nationals last week and the Big East Championships looming in the near future, top runners will stay on campus this weekend to prepare, while future runners will get the opportunity to show what they have.
Some of the men competing are Michael Brocks, Pat Geoghegan and Nat Saviet. For the women, Lynne Mundy, Ari Kasprowicz and Lisa Giacometti will have the chance to race.
"It is a great opportunity for some of the guys who won't be on the Big East team to run this weekend," said Jeff Scull, a veteran runner. "It is a great chance for other runners to step up and prove themselves."
Runners only have one optional day of practice a week, and thus the monotony of running against the same teammates every day can get tiresome.
As a result, both the men and women who will compete this weekend will take full advantage of it.
"It is really all about improving," said sophomore Heather Stephens, who will not make the trip to Ithaca this weekend. "The group running will be excited to compete against other teams and will just use it to get better."
Though the top SU runners will stay home, it is certainly not a time to relax.
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