Third-year Syracuse head coach Chris Fox and the Orange men and women head to Lehigh University for the Paul Short Invitational on Friday, September 28.
Great Expectations: Syracuse Cross Country Ready For Action
9/21/2007 9:17:48 AM | Cross Country
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse men and women’s cross country teams begin regular-season competition on Friday, September 28 at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University. After introducing the Orange as a national contender in 2006 and an impressive 2007 preseason, both squads anticipate even more success on the horizon.
“It’s definitely a different feeling this year,” said third-year Syracuse head coach Chris Fox. “It was exciting last year because we were new and we had young kids. Now, we know what direction we’re heading and we have expectations.”
Some of the expectations that Fox alludes to have already come to fruition just a few weeks into the season. The SU men and women are coming off first-place finishes at last weekend’s Boston College Invitational, the site of this year’s Northeast Regionals on November 10. Senior Kyle Heath and junior Nana Sang-Bender led the Orange to victories against four teams nationally ranked by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
“I think the teams have a good perspective this year,” Fox said. “We really played it low-key at Boston College. We said ‘it’s the first meet, we want to go out and run as hard as we can for where we are.’ But when we go to a meet now, we want and expect to win.”
The Orange men and women look to build off their early-season success en route to qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on November 19. Fox and his staff’s expectations reach beyond the BIG EAST Championships and the Northeast Regionals.
“We fully expect to go to nationals this year,” Fox said. “We expect to be there and we know we’ll be good enough on the right day to go. That would be a huge step and that’s the first hurdle we have to clear for the future of this program. We have a lot of momentum all over the country right now in terms of what we’re trying to do here at Syracuse.”
The Orange returns a core nucleus of performers including junior Jeff Scull and Sang-Bender. Scull, and sophomores Dan Busby and Jay Koloseus received Northeast All-Region honors last season. Senior Liz Cufari and Sang-Bender garnered All-BIG EAST accolades in 2005 and 2006, respectively, becoming the first SU women to receive the honor since Alicia Hauber in 1983.
Several highly-touted newcomers highlight Fox’s third recruiting class at Syracuse. Freshmen Erin Schirm captured a first-place finish at the Harry Lang Invitational and freshmen Kathleen Hursey placed sixth at the Binghamton Invitational.
“The future looks bright,” Fox said. “Whatever happens this year, we’re that much better next year and we’re that much better the year after.”
The first step of the Syracuse cross country season will be taken at Lehigh. While the Boston College Invitational capped off a productive preseason and set the tone for the regular season, don’t think for one second that Fox and the Orange will underestimate the significance of the Paul Short Invitational.
“It’s an important meet,” Fox said. “It’s a step for the program and we’re looking for to it. We’re excited.”
Women's Lacrosse Postgame Press Conference vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, March 07
Highlights | Women's Lacrosse vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, March 07
Postgame Press Conference vs. Louisville - ACC 3rd Round
Saturday, March 07
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Louisville
Saturday, March 07
