Aug. 22, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University men's and women's cross country teams return to campus, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, for the start of preparations for the 2005 season, which begins on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Fordham RAM Invitational, at Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx.
This year will be the first under new Head Coach Michael Owens, who was an assistant last year for Jennifer Wyshner, who resigned during the summer.
"We have a lot of talented runners in our program," Owens said. "We have some holes to fill at the outset, but once the championship season rolls around, we should be ready to peak. We expect some of the younger runners from last year, to step it up, and help fill up some spots."
When the teams return to campus the runners will have taken part in a new off-season training program that began last spring. "This year's schedule will have fewer races in September, and more in the championship season, in which we should be in condition, and do well in the meets that matter," Owens said.
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"We have a lot of talented runners in our program. We have some holes to fill at the outset, but once the championship season rolls around, we should be ready to peak. We expect some of the younger runners from last year, to step it up, and help fill up some spots.
Head Coach Michael Owens
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The Fairfield women finished sixth at last year's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships, and the men finished seventh at last season's MAAC Championships.
For the last three seasons, the Fairfield women have finished sixth at the MAAC Championships, and in two of the last three years the men have finished sixth.
Owens believes if the runners on both teams progress as the season goes along, the Stags have a chance to move up spots in the standings. "We have some really big shoes to fill, but if both teams make strides week in and week out then we should have a good showing at the MAAC Championships."
Here is a look at the Fairfield University men's and women's cross country teams.
Men
The men's side lost its two top runners, but will have four of its top seven from last season, returning this year. The Fairfield men will have its work cut out, as it will try to replace Bryan Mahoney and Justin Rindos, who were the top two runners for the Stags last season.
Owens will have senior co-captains A.J. Kastanotis and Devin Hagan to lead the way for the young Fairfield squad. Last year, Kastanotis posted a season-best 28:17 at the New England Championships, and then turned in another solid performance at the ECAC/IC4A Championships with a 28:28.
Kastanotis spent the summer training in Boston with a talented group of runners, according to Owens. With the work that the senior has put in this summer, the first-year head coach expects him to have a breakout year.
Hagan posted a third place finish on the team at the Fairfield Invitational, crossing the finish line in 28:24.5. He posted a solid 29:27 at the New England Championships and a 29:31 at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. After spending the summer training with Mahoney in Fairfield, Hagan is in the best condition he has been in heading into the start of the season.
Also added in the mix for the lead Fairfield pack is sophomore A.J. Lawrence. After running in all nine races last season, Owens feels that with him being older and stronger will only benefit him. At the 2004 Fairfield Invitational, he ran a 28:48.9, and at the MAAC Championships he crossed the finish line with a 29:13.42.
Sophomore Matt Ginn was a pleasant surprise for the Stags last season, as he came on strong late in the season. He posted a season-best over five-miles at the New England Championships posting a 29:13. At the Fairfield Invite, he had a 29:19.7, and at the MAAC Championships, he finished the race with a 29:17.02.
Owens will also look to junior John LaCagnina, sophomore John Worrall, and junior Dan Ryan to step up and fill some of the shoes left by the Class of 2004.
LaCagnina saved his best race for the MAAC Championships last season posting a 28:55.67 over five-miles. At the New England Championships, the East Meadow, N.Y. native, traversed the fast Franklin Park course in 29:38.
Worrall posted a 29:37 at the New England Championship, and a 29:40.81 in the MAAC Championships. By running in eight of nine races a year ago, and taking part in the revamped training program, he is poised to make a splash this year.
Ryan had a 30:50 at the New England Championships, and a season-best 30:45 at the ECAC/IC4A Championships.
John Fields, Duncan Gerity, and Patrick Gleeson will also be included in the mix this season, as Owens is short in numbers, but not talent on the men's side.
Women
Owens has a good feeling about the women's team this year, as it looks to very good. The senior class led by Shannon Kenefick, who as the season progresses should be All-MAAC caliber, along with co-captains Kara O'Connell and Maryellen Pribish will lead a solid core of returning runners, along with a talented group of freshmen.
Kenefick had a solid finish to the 2004 season, as she posted the fifth-best 5k time at Van Cortlandt Park in school-history with a 19:41 at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. She led Fairfield in three of the last four races of the season, including a 23:40.4 at the NCAA Northeast Regional, and a 12:20 over a shortened course at the CCSU Mini-Meet.
O'Connell is likely to be in Fairfield's lead group this year. She posted a 20:49.7 at the Fairfield Invitational and a 20:56 at the New England Championships. She is a strong runner, and along with Pribish gives Fairfield solid leadership.
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Pribish, is coming off a solid year for the Stags as a junior, she posted a season-best 23:08 at the New England Championships.
Sophomore Megan Kruger burst onto the scene as a freshman, finishing among the top runners on the team. The Cheshire, Conn. native had a 21:10 at the New England Championships, and a 21:32.3 at the Fairfield Invitational.
Junior Courtney Kincaid looks to come into camp in top condition, after a solid summer of training. At the New England Championships, Kincaid posted a 21:02, which was a season-best for the Hanover, Mass., native. The week before, at the Fairfield Invitational, she had a 21:08.8.
Junior Kelli Connors had a 22:12 at last year's New England Championships, and a 22:26 at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. In addition, junior Liz Casey is back, after being in and out of the lineup last season. She had a 21:37 at the ECAC/IC4A Championships.
Among the talented bunch of newcomers, Devan Ard and Liz Norrish have the capabilities to be included among the lead Fairfield runners this year. Rounding out the newcomers are Lauren Asermely, Laura Barry, Jennifer Booton, Tara Jackson, and Kelly Stapleton.
Schedule
After the Fordham RAM Invite the Stags will travel to New Britain, Conn., for the CCSU Ted Owen Invitational, at Stanley Quarter State Park. Both teams will be running at some of the top cross country courses in the Northeast this season. The Stags will have three races at the famed Van Cortlandt Park course, and twice at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.
Fairfield will host the 29th annual Fairfield Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1, on campus. Two weeks later, the Stags will host Hofstra in a dual meet, on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn.
Following the Fairfield Invitational, the Stags will travel to Boston, for one of the oldest meets in the Nation, the New England Championships, on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The meet with Hofstra, will serve as a warm up for the MAAC Championships, which will return to Van Cortlandt Park on Oct. 28, after being held at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex last year.
Fairfield will return to Boston, on Nov. 12, for the NCAA Northeast Regional Qualifier, and finish the season at the ECAC/IC4A Championships on Nov. 19 at Van Cortlandt Park.
