A Season Of High Expectations Ahead For Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
A Season Of High Expectations Ahead For Men’s and
Women’s Cross Country
CHICOPEE, MA – In 2009, the Elms College
men’s and women’s cross country teams will take to the
trails with high expectations and a determination to improve upon
last season’s strong finish.
“2008 was a successful season for the team in general,”
sixth-year head coach Amy Lane said of her squad.
“My expectations are that we will continue to build upon that
success. We will certainly try to prove that we deserve the fourth
place preseason ranking for the men’s team and the second
place ranking for the women’s team.”
At last season’s New England Collegiate Conference (NECC)
Championships, senior Amanda Koch (Williston, VT)
and sophomore Becka Boisseau (Chicopee, MA) helped
highlight a Blazers women’s team that finished third overall
in the seven-team field. Recently graduated runner Jill Bigos
(South Hadley, MA) led Elms’ charge, placing second among 49
runners in a time of 21:31 en route to earning First-Team All-NECC
honors.
On the men’s side, junior Nick Whitman (Florence,
MA) raced to a team-best 25th place finish at the NECC
Championship.
For Elms’ upcoming season, Coach Lane will look to her
upperclassmen to pave the way for a corps of talented younger
runners.
“My upperclassmen have been great leaders for the program
– both in enthusiasm and determination during
practices,” explained Coach Lane. “I know that these
athletes will continue to show the newer runners what this team is
all about in respect to hard work, dedication, improvement and
trust.”
With six returners from the 2008 squad (four for the men and two
for the women), and the return of a familiar face, the Blazers will
rely on its collective experience to continue making strides.
“We recently learned of the return of Alycia
Dabrowski (Chicopee, MA) to the team,” stated Coach
Lane. “She is a dedicated, determined, strong individual who
will strengthen the women’s team and be a leader for the
entire program. Additionally, our new runners, Jennifer
Cicero (Chicopee, MA), Chantal Wakefield (East
Longmeadow, MA), Daniel Horonzy (Springfield,
MA), and Brendan Warren (Arlington, MA),
all show incredible potential.”
Dabrowski was a stellar runner for Elms College during the 2006 and
2007 seasons and will look to provide an additional spark to an
already energized team.
SCHEDULE
The cross country schedule includes meets against many of best
Division III teams in New England and New York. The Blazers
conclude each season with three championships – the NECC
Championship, the ECAC Division III Championship, and the NCAA
Division III New England Qualifier.
Elms College will continue to host the Blazers Invitational (Sept.
26) and will also host the 2009 NECC Cross Country Championships at
Chicopee Memorial State Park (Oct. 31).
The Blazers’ conference competition on the men’s side
includes Daniel Webster, Lesley, Mitchell, Newbury, Southern
Vermont and Wheelock, while the women will race against those six
teams as well as Bay Path.
“Lesley (ranked No. 1 in the women’s preseason polls)
is certainly a tough team to beat and deserves the recognition
after last year’s results,” noted Coach Lane.
“Our women’s team is strong and will need to continue
to grow in confidence to place second at our championships.
“We do have the advantage of hosting the [NECC] championship
meet, which I am sure will help,” Coach Lane continued.
“We are also focused on that championship meet as our goal
race for the season and will work to peak for that race.”
WRAP-UP
Coach Lane has high expectations for her squads this season and for
good reason.
“My teams are strong, enthusiastic, and determined to
improve,” explained Coach Lane. “They work hard during
practices, encourage each other, and build off each other’s
success. They are a team that will continue to improve throughout
the season.”
