Experience and Depth Key to Women's Cross Country Squad
August 28, 2003 | Women's Cross Country
Aug. 28, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With eight veterans returning, including five seniors, the University of Louisville women's cross country team has high expectations for 2003 as they prepare to open its season Friday evening at the Indiana Open in Bloomington.
The 5K race begins at 5:45 EDT at the IU Cross Country Course. Other schools competing will be Indiana, South Florida, Manchester College, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Huntington College.
Leading the way for the Cardinals are senior tri-captains Amanda Bell, Emily Daunhauer and Marea Ingwersen. Bell, who was one of Indiana's top runners before transferring to Louisville last year, will be competing for the Cardinals for the first time after redshirting last fall. Daunhauer led the Cardinals in five of seven races last year and is expected to be one of the top runners again this season. Ingwersen, who also redshirted last year, was the Cards' No. 2 runner two years ago and should again be one of the leaders in her final season.
"We will be much improved over last year's team," said first-year U of L distance coach Kris Horton. "Last year we had the closest pack at the Conference USA Championships with our top five runners running within 23 seconds of each other, but it was too far back and the team placed ninth overall. This year we have a front runner in Amanda and our 2-7 runners are much improved."
Junior Corryn McCrae and freshman Holly Geers look to make big contributions this year. McCrae was consistently among the top three Cardinal runners a year ago, while Geers was a state qualifier as a senior at South Oldham High School last year.
Seniors Beth Wendt and Laine Hamman, sophomores Crystal Duffala and Ashley Ruberg and redshirt freshman Allissa Moore will provide good depth for the Cards.
"Our depth will be a big plus for us this year," said Horton. "I expect to see several runners step up over the course of the season to give us a very solid top seven by the time conference rolls around. This is a very team-oriented group and they are very unselfish in that respect. I am very fortunate to have such a great group to work with my first year."
The Cardinals will again compete in two meets in Louisville this season. On September 27, the Greater Louisville Sports Commission will host the Greater Louisville Challenge at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. The following week, U of L will host the Cardinal Classic at the Shelby Campus on Shelbyville Road.
The Conference USA Championships will be held Nov. 1 in Tampa, Fla., followed by the NCAA Southeast Regionals in Greenville, N.C. The Cardinals will also make trips to Vanderbilt, Southern Illinois and Evansville this year.
"Our goal this year is to finish in the top five at conference and field a competitive team at the NCAA Regionals," Horton said. "The women have not competed in the regionals in the past, but I have put the challenge to them that if they finish in the top five at conference we will make the trip. The team has taken that to heart and it should result in an exciting season."
