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2003 Preview


Atlantic Region Previews
2004

Women's Preview
Rank
Lst. Yr @ Regional
Team Preview
1
3
SUNY Geneseo Despite Graduating #1 Runner, they return the rest of their NCAA Qualifying team from a year ago. They also add Track All-American, Renne Catalano who was out last fall as well as a very good recruiting class.
2
1
TCNJ Last year's regional champions return 4 of their top 7 but lose their top 3. They did have a very good recruiting year and they do return two upper class athletes who missed last year so I expect them to be a contender by November.
3t
2
Ithaca College Graduated 2 of their top 5 from last year but return a solid pack. They appear to be dead even with St. Lawrence who they defeated by 11 pts. in last years regional.
3t
4
St. Lawrence Return 4 of their top 5 from a team that steadily moved up the rankings last fall and placed 4th at Regionals. They will be hurt by the loss of their #1 runner from last year but look to be improved from a team that qualified for NCAA's last year.
5
5
NYU I have not received a report but based on last year's results, they return 5 of their top 7 from last year.
6
6
Brockport They also return 6 of their top 7 from last year and look like a very solid group.
7
7
Cortland  
8
13
Clarkson  
9
8
Vassar  
10
11
Rowan  
Men's Preview
Rank
Lst. Yr @ Regional
Team Preview
1
1
Geneseo SUNY Geneseo – 7th at NCAA's

Graduated their #3 and #5 from a year ago in which they broke lots of ground last season with their first NYSCTC, and Regional Championships along with their first team bid to the NCAA's since 1972. They will have two returning all Americas from last year's team in Ted Turner (5th NCAA's), Jeff Beck (29th NCAA's) who should lead a team that was deep with underclassmen last season. No sign of immediate impact first years at this point.
2
2
TCNJ The College of New Jersey – 12th at NCAA's

They graduated #'s 1 and 3 Brach and Cline from last years NCAA team. If their returnees stay healthy they should still have great experience and leadership with 5 top juniors returning as seniors. Steve Dolan has taken a job at Princeton at the cross country and distance coach leaving Tim Collins at the helm. They have four first year guys listed and have HS stats as follows: Kopnicki 16:27 and 22nd place at NJ HS State Meet, 4:30, Anthony Arnold-4:30, Kyle Alpaugh 9:35, Josh Krowicki- 4:30. TCNJ will have a consistently strong program and should be one of the top three teams in the region throughout the season.
3
3
NYU

NYU – 3rd Regionals, 23rd at NCAA's

They graduated only their number 4 runner and will return all of the rest of their top 7 from last years team. They appear to have an excellent freshman class (probably the best in the Atlantic Region) which should help keep them in the hunt for one of the top three spots for NCAA's if not in position to vie for team honors. Vini Zarrillo will lead the team after his 43rd place finish at NC's last year (14:34). Backing him up will be guys that have run good times on the track including: Keany 8:10 3k, Pierpont 15:35, Phillips 15:33, Kraksa 4:12, Fuld 15:31 and return Buechel a 9:26 Steepler (3:54) and McCarthy who ran 4:20 and 8:46. Their freshman include Popeson 4:18/9:20, Williams 4:25/9:25, Abdallah 4:28/9:23. On paper they look like they might even be the team to beat or at least solid competition for Geneseo.

4
4
St. Lawrence St. Lawrence – 4th Regionals

Return only Jon French out of their top 5, and their lone representative at last year's NCAA's and 8th in the Region. They graduated two consistently strong seniors Dana (2x track AA) and Freedman who were their #2 and #4 runners at last yrs. Regional. They have also lost two impact runners as transfers in first year Blake Davis who was a clutch 5th man at regionals and 3rd runner Adam VanNortwick (runner up 1500m at NCAA's at Milliken). One noteworthy freshman may keep their hopes for an NCAA bid alive. A 9:24 2 miler from MA who was ranked 7th in Massachusssetts cross country last year. A cast of 6 other freshman will hope to fill in some of the gaps which include multiple state class champ of VT John Ostler 4:22
5t
5t
Ithaca Ithaca College – 5th Regionals

They graduated only their number 1 runner from their top 7, however this could have a big impact on them since Mike Stycyzynski had been their consistent #1 by almost a minute throughout all of last year. Shawn Calabrese should be their top returner without much indication of their first year class. The rest of their returners were all either relatively new last year or first time top 7 runners who picked up a lot of experience last season.
5t
5t
Plattsburgh SUNY Plattsburgh – 5th Regionals

Their roster shows only three runners returning from last year's 5th place team. However, their number 2 runner who qualified as an individuals for the NCAA's last fall appears in the lineup. They have a new coach in Eric Blake (second coach in as many years) but they really stepped it up last fall in November. A team to watch, and with any impact first years, they could improve on last years finish at regionals
7
7
Alfred

Alfred - 7th Regionals

No report: Should have graduated #1 and #5 with either Ryan Bank or Daniel Gagnon being their top returner. They too have a new coach in Rob Winke, former Alfred cross country and track standout.

8
8
USMMA

US Merchant Marine Academy - 8th Regionals

No Report: Should have only lost their number 6 man from last years squad. If so they could be poised for a big jump this season. They may also have a couple of impact freshman on their squad.

9
9
RIT

Rochester Institute of Tech. - 9th Regionals

No Report: RIT had 4 of their top 5 as seniors last season, however word has it that Curtis Howard is back for another go which should give them some help along with Jesse Williamson, a likely #1 runner for them. With some solid freshman, they have a shot at maintaining or improving on last years finish.

10
10
Brockport

SUNY Brockport - 10th Regionals

No report: Won their home meet in good fashing with 3 in the top 4. They look to return all but their 7th from last years team. This could be the year for a big jump for Mark Krueger's team.

    Other Teams to Watch

  • U of Rochester - With no seniors on last years team who finished 11th in the region they should be looking for a much improved placing this season. Add in Andrew Whitbeck (9:30 steeple, injured last season) and 1 or 2 freshman, who knows what they might achieve this season.
  • Cortland - Although they will have a different Coach again this year, it is Jack Daniels. Fred Joslyn, Ed Crowley, and Chuck Terry should be key returners. No word on Andy Cloke (17th at Regionals for Keuka, and transferred to Cortland for Spring Semester last year).