2011 Cross Country Preview
2011 Women's Cross Country Preview
Head coach Mike Woods (Geneseo '69) begins his 20th year leading the Geneseo women's cross country team and the veteran mentor thinks the Blue Knights are poised for a top 10 finish at the NCAA Division III national meet. In 2010, Geneseo finished 12th at the national championships after finishing second at the Atlantic Region and SUNYAC championships.
Junior Marissa Liberati (Manchester/Red Jacket) and senior Alyssa Smith (Rochester/Brighton) are the clear-cut leaders of the 2011 team. Liberati won the SUNYAC individual title in 2010 on her way to a 27th place All-America performance at the nationals, while Smith claimed All-Atlantic Region and first team All-SUNYAC during cross country before exploding on the national scene with an All-America certificate in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor season.
Woods has a unique enthusiasm for first year Cassie Goodman (Phelps/Midlakes). The four-time Section V event champion looks to run in the lead pack with Liberati and Smith.
A quartet of juniors could be the key to the success of the Blue Knights as All-Atlantic Region and second team All-SUNYAC pick Danae Polsin (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) leads the group. Geneseo's Emily Sullivan (West Seneca/West Seneca West) earned All-Atlantic Region, while Brigid Heenan (Liverpool) and Esther Lok (Woodbury/Syosset) begin the year as part of the top group.
Three other returners and one newcomer should push the top group for a spot on the regional team, including a pair of 2010 second team All-SUNYAC picks, senior Ashley Jones (Hilton) and sophomore Mary Aldridge (Rochester/Brighton), along with sophomore Bekah Steinke (Lima/Honeoye Falls-Lima) and first year Alyssa Knott (Smithtown/West).
Seniors Kelly Brunscheen (Sherrill/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Melissa Matthews (Baldwinsville/Baker), junior Carolyn Mahon (Seaford/MacArthur), sophomores Celeste Hoelzl (Wilton, CT/Wilton), Allison Hoh (Honeoye Falls/Honeoye Falls-Lima), Lauren McKnight (North Massapequa/Farmingdale) and Valerie Sanders (East Meadow) and first years Molly Bennett (East Quogue/Westhampton Beach), Tia Bullard (Oswego/Mexico), Joanna Castrogivanni (Smithtown/West), Nikki Deiseroth (Horseheads), Chinasa Ekweremuba (Brooklyn/Brooklyn Generation), Laura Szczesniak (Whitesboro), Mallory Warner (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and Keira Wood (Lake Ronkonkoma/Sachem North) complete the roster.
The Knights begin their season on Saturday, September 3 at the Buffalo St. Invitational and will host the 31st Annual Geneseo Invitational on Saturday, October 1 at Letchworth State Park at 11 a.m.
2011 Men's Cross Country Preview
The Geneseo men's cross country team begins the 2011 season with high expectations after finishing seventh at the 2010 NCAA Division III championships. Head coach Mike Woods (Geneseo, '69) enters his 20th season after earning his eighth SUNYAC Coach of the Year award in 2010. The team won the NCAA Atlantic Regional and their second straight and 10th overall SUNYAC championship last season.
Returning All-America seniors Lee Berube (Putnam Station/Ticonderoga) and Eddie Novara (Angola/Lake Shore) lead a talented group of returning runners. Berube won the individual title at the Atlantic Regional and SUNYAC championships. At the nationals, Berube finished eighth and Novara finished in 27th place to claim their national awards.
Seniors Mark Streb (Brockport/Brockport) and Chris Mateer (Webster/Thomas) top the other returning runners, which include junior Tom Clark (Wantagh/Wantagh) and sophomore Patrick Wortner (Dobbs Ferry/Dobbs Ferry). Streb and Wortner joined the two All-Americans on the 2010 All-Region team and were second team All-SUNYAC choices.
Woods is especially excited to have first year Billy Gabriel (Syracuse/West Genesee), who won the New York State championship in the indoor 1,600 meters and should join the lead pack.
Seniors Kevin Bronson (Constableville/South Lewis), Chris Carter (Grand Island) and A.J. Corcoran (Syracuse/Westhill), along with juniors Rob Harmon (Milford/Cooperstown) and Chris Moore (Syracuse/Westhill) lead the returning group looking to compete for a top seven spot.
Senior Russell Larson (Lynbrook/Lynbrook) and juniors Tim Chambers (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker), Matthew Knott (Smithtown/Smithtown West), and Mike Mattiucci (Webster/Thomas) add experience to Geneseo's roster.
Sophomores Josh Halpern (Woodbury/Syosset) and Ethan Koreff (Wantagh) give Woods added depth and first years Cole DeClerck (Webster/Thomas), Jason Ehmann (Geneseo), Sean Fischer (Pittsford/Sutherland), Tim Mateer (Webster/Thomas), Ryan Moynihan (Geneseo), Cody Orton (Dover Plains/Dover), and Kent Upham (LeRaysville, PA/Northeast Bradford) try to make their marks.
The Blue Knights open their season Saturday, September 3 at the Buffalo State Invitational. They host the Geneseo Invitational on Saturday, October 1 at Letchworth State Park at 11 a.m.