The Daily OrangeCross country hoping to finish ahead of rival Providence in Big East championship
By Rachel Stern
Posted: 10/30/09, 2:28 AM EST Section: Sports
Victory usually means a first place finish.
But for the Syracuse women's cross country team, victory on Saturday would mean something very different.
It would encompass a third-place finish, a defeat of Georgetown, and perhaps most importantly for them, showing the rest of the cross country world that longtime rival, Providence, is not as good as everyone thinks.
"Providence makes nationals every year, so in beating them it would finally be like, 'oh, look, they are not as good as everyone makes them out to be,'" said Katie Hursey, before adding a quick side note. "Also, we just don't like the girls on their team, to put it nicely."
On Halloween, the cross country men and women will travel to Kenosha, Wis. to compete against the rest of their conference at the Big East Championships. While the men hope to upset the favorite, Georgetown, and capture first place, the women are focused on a third-place finish, ahead of Georgetown and, for personal reasons, Providence.
For the women, West Virginia and Villanova are, in head coach Chris Fox's words, "heads and shoulders above the rest of us." Villanova is ranked No. 2 in the nation and West Virginia is No. 4, according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll.
"After the two big favorites it is Georgetown, then us. If we get fourth we did a good job," Fox said. "Providence is great and we have never beaten them and we have never beaten Georgetown, so fourth is a good day; third is a great day."
Though Georgetown is ranked ninth, one in front of the No. 10 Orange, Providence seems to be the biggest concern for the Syracuse women.
The Friars are ranked No. 24 in the nation, but an overlap in recruiting and a general dislike between the two squads adds extra incentive to beating them this weekend.
"We definitely have our eyes on a few teams," said sophomore Heather Stephens. "But, Providence is the main one. Let's just say we have a pretty good rivalry with them."
But for the Syracuse women's cross country team, victory on Saturday would mean something very different.
It would encompass a third-place finish, a defeat of Georgetown, and perhaps most importantly for them, showing the rest of the cross country world that longtime rival, Providence, is not as good as everyone thinks.
"Providence makes nationals every year, so in beating them it would finally be like, 'oh, look, they are not as good as everyone makes them out to be,'" said Katie Hursey, before adding a quick side note. "Also, we just don't like the girls on their team, to put it nicely."
On Halloween, the cross country men and women will travel to Kenosha, Wis. to compete against the rest of their conference at the Big East Championships. While the men hope to upset the favorite, Georgetown, and capture first place, the women are focused on a third-place finish, ahead of Georgetown and, for personal reasons, Providence.
For the women, West Virginia and Villanova are, in head coach Chris Fox's words, "heads and shoulders above the rest of us." Villanova is ranked No. 2 in the nation and West Virginia is No. 4, according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll.
"After the two big favorites it is Georgetown, then us. If we get fourth we did a good job," Fox said. "Providence is great and we have never beaten them and we have never beaten Georgetown, so fourth is a good day; third is a great day."
Though Georgetown is ranked ninth, one in front of the No. 10 Orange, Providence seems to be the biggest concern for the Syracuse women.
The Friars are ranked No. 24 in the nation, but an overlap in recruiting and a general dislike between the two squads adds extra incentive to beating them this weekend.
"We definitely have our eyes on a few teams," said sophomore Heather Stephens. "But, Providence is the main one. Let's just say we have a pretty good rivalry with them."
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