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Men's & Women's Cross Country
Current Season Preview
updated
11/09/2007
2007
Women's Cross Country Team Ranked No. 13 In Nation
KU men enter season regionally ranked
KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Kutztown University men’s and women’s cross
country teams return experienced runners from last year, and the
women will open the season as the No. 13 team in the nation
according to the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches
Association (USTFCCCA) Division II rankings.
 Stephanie Williams,
Joanna Horstmann and Maureen Watson, who are returning
all-region runners for the USTFCCCA second-ranked team in the East
Region, will lead the women into the 2007 season. Williams, a senior
All-PSAC runner, qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 3k, 5k
and 10k in track and field. Horstmann earned All-PSAC honors last
season.
 Watson was KU’s No. 4 finisher at the regional meet last season, and
the PSAC Coach of the Year Ray Hoffman, who’s entering his
10th season at KU, believes Watson looks much stronger than she was
last year. Horstmann finished sixth in the East Regionals.
Williams, Horstmann, Watson and Cheryl Dingman all ran
at nationals last season as KU finished 14th in the nation, a
school-best.
Delaware Community College transfer Cristina Reimer (fr. Chester
Springs/Downingtown East), a top 25 finisher at the PIAA AAA
state meet in 2003, should closely follow Williams if not running
with her, Hoffman said.
Incoming freshman Kristin Cupido (fr. Bridgewater,
NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) has the chance to be the top newcomer in
the PSAC.
“She has the ability to have a similar year as Watson’s freshman
year, when she had four top 25 finishes,” Hoffman said.
He also believes returners Hailey Dell, Kristin Green
and Jolene Collins all have the potential of running in KU’s
top seven.
Michele Celenza,
Katelyn Katzgrau, Holly Pinkerton, Nicole Sirico
and Becky Webb, all who competed last season, return for
2007. Lauren Ayars, a sophomore, will redshirt this season,
and Keri Brown (fr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) joins the squad.
 Senior Patrick Bone was the men’s top finisher in both the
PSAC and regional events. The KU men are ranked seventh in the NCAA
East Region heading into the 2007 season. Newcomers Ben Loht (so.
Lewistown/Indian Valley), Matt Cocciardi (fr. York/York
Suburban) and Tom Mooney (fr. Churchville/Council Rock South)
will help the Golden Bears men’s squad improve this season. Loht, a
transfer from Penn State, and Mooney are both PIAA Class AAA
qualifiers and Cocciardi was a PIAA Class AA state qualifier.
Mooney, who was a three-time state qualifier, set a personal record
of 15:34 in the 5k at Council Rock South. In outdoor track and
field, Loht qualified for the PSAC Championships in the 5k last
season.
Senior Pat McKeever and junior John Pyne will add
depth to the men’s roster along with IUP transfer Kevin Rodgers
and Tim Ballingall (fr. Downingtown/Downingtown East).
Tony Skiles,
a junior, will redshirt this season, and freshman Christopher
Mack (fr. Allentown/William Allen) will join the team this
season.
KU opens the season at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Bucknell
Invitational. It will be the first of six meets for the Golden
Bears. KU will host the Maroon and Gold Invitational at 10 a.m. on
Sept. 8 and the PSAC Championships on Oct. 27.
15200 Kutztown Road • Kutztown PA. 19530
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania • P.O. Box 730 • Kutztown, PA 19530
(610) 683-4000 • TDD (610) 683-1315, (610) 683-4499
Member of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education
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