Cross Country Preview
August 17, 2004 03:48 PM | General
August 17, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It may be a while before Coach Jeff Huntoon knows how good his women’s cross country team is.
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| Senior Megan Metcalfe is one of the top returners in the country
(All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Even though Huntoon welcomes back one of America’s top runners in senior Megan Metcalfe, who took off the outdoor track season to concentrate on academics, Huntoon isn’t sure whether or not he will have his other top runner, Tara Struyk, a three-time NCAA outdoor track qualifier and two-time national qualifier in cross country.
Struyk is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility because she missed her first year with an injury while running at the University of Oregon. If Struyk gains an additional year, Huntoon envisions West Virginia as a potential top-tier team in the powerful Big East conference and a Top 20 contender at nationals.
“Unfortunately Tara was injured out at Oregon and there are a lot of hoops to jump,” said Huntoon of the process to determine Struyk’s eligibility.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native will train on her own until a ruling is made. If Struyk is not available Huntoon believes the Mountaineers will still have a solid team.
“We’re not going to finish eighth in the Big East like we did last year,” he said. “But with Tara back we’re a potential top 3 team in the Big East and a top 4 team at the regional championships to get to nationals.”
As has been the case the last three years, Metcalfe will be the team’s cornerstone. She is a two-time NCAA qualifier who captured the regional title two seasons ago. She is also a four-time All-American in track.
If Metcalfe can return to the form she showed as a sophomore in 2002 then West Virginia will be right back in the thick of things.
“Last year was just a lot of academic stuff that was starting to weigh on her. She is going to be refreshed and excited to put the uniform back on,” said Huntoon.
According to the coach, Metcalfe had a great summer of training. She finished third at the Canadian National Trials in the 1,500 to barely miss competing in the 2004 Olympic Games.
“If she’s an American she’s going to the Olympics," said Huntoon. “But that’s not how things work in Canada.”
Huntoon believes the real key to this year’s season will be how the team’s No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 runners perform. He says it is a must for them to run together as a pack: “If Metcalfe is 1 or 2 and they’re finishing 18-19-20 then we’re fine. But we can’t have 18, 25 and 37. That’s the kind of stuff we’ve had in the past,” he said.
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| Senior Devon Plesuk is a solid returner, according to Huntoon
(All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
After Metcalfe and Struyk, the rest of the lineup will probably consist of Jennifer Davis, Jennifer Kemp, Susan Davis, Devon Plesuk and Rachel Carden.
Kemp is a two-time NCAA qualifier in the outdoor 800 and has plenty of big-meet experience. Huntoon believes with the right mindset Kemp could be a big contributor in cross country this fall, too.
“It is always difficult with a track kid. There is no question that is her mentality but she is a solid No. 4 or No. 5 for us,” said Huntoon.
Several other runners could also work their way into the mix as well. Redshirt freshman Nicole Lemal ran well during the latter part of outdoor track season and comes into the fall in great shape.
Freshman Alison Spiker of Ripley is a talented newcomer who could be a factor if she can make a quick adjustment to collegiate competition. “We’ve got a couple of good young ones,” said Huntoon.
Rounding out the 13-person roster are Morgantown natives Melinda Berry Ann, Nicole Dorinzi, Maria Stover and Moorestown, N.J., junior Colleen Hughes.
Stover is a University High School product who went to Trinity University to play basketball before transferring to WVU to run track and cross country.
Huntoon says 10 runners will travel to away meets this season.
West Virginia opens the 2004 campaign at the Duquesne Duals on Saturday, Sept. 4, and also competes at Indiana State on Sept. 11, at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 25, and at the Penn State Open on Oct. 16 before taking part in the Big East championships in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The NCAA Mid-East Regionals are Saturday, Nov. 13, at State College, Pa., and NCAA Nationals will take place at Indiana State on Monday, Nov. 22.
“We’ve adjusted our schedule a little bit this year,” said Huntoon. “We’re going to go out to Minnesota a little early and try and get some quality points early in the national rankings and hopefully do real well at the Big East championship.
“The Minnesota meet will be huge for us,” he added. “If we can finish eighth, ninth or 10th there then that will be an excellent showing for us and that will get us some points. From there we’re really gearing for the Big East.”
Huntoon lists Georgetown, Providence and Notre Dame as the three teams to beat in the Big East.
“This is a really tough conference,” he said. “You’re talking about Providence, Notre Dame and Georgetown. Georgetown has a streak of like 20 years in a row going to nationals. Then you add Boston College, which is no slouch either.”
West Virginia begins practicing today for the 2004 campaign.
“They had a great summer of training,” said Huntoon. “They are coming in with a little bit of an attitude that I thought they should have had last year.”
