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2000 Delaware Women's Cross Country Outlook
Quick
Facts Athletics Staff Sports Information Women's Cross Country
Information:
2000 University of Delaware Women's Cross Country Outlook
Most of the pack that helped the 1999 University of Delaware women's cross country squad place fourth at the America East championships returns this fall to help keep the momentum going. The Blue Hens lost their top runner, Caron Marra, to graduation, but a host of young but experienced runners returns to form a solid unit that could battle for the conference title. Delaware will host the America East championships Oct. 28 at White Clay Creek State Park. The last time the Hens hosted the event in 1995, the UD women won the team title. "We are pretty optimistic for the season," said 19th-year head coach Sue McGrath-Powell, who will have Marra, who led the team in all but one race a year ago (12th at America East), as one of her assistant coaches this fall. "We return almost all of our top runners from last year and many are coming off outstanding track seasons in the spring or have come back from injuries." The Blue Hens' premiere runner is junior Aimee Alexander, who finished second among Blue Hen runners behind Marra in all but one race a year ago. She paced the Hens with a 40th place finish at the NCAA District II meet and was 14th overall at the America East conference championships. She enjoyed a solid track season in 1999-2000, placing second in the America East and 16th at the ECAC championships in the 5,000 meters. Also back to lead the Blue Hens is junior Jenn Krisch, who was the Hens' No. 3 finisher in all seven races in 1999, including a 21st place finish at the America East championships. Other UD runners to watch will be junior Monica Marchetta (37th at America East meet in 1999), junior Sarah Johnson, who missed the final four races in 1999 with injuries; senior Katie MacKelcan (46th at America East); sophomore Krista Kugler (55th at America East), sophomore Cristin Romano, senior Shauna Hughes, and senior Dana Kolesar. Among the top newcomers are senior Karen Reber, who returns to the squad after taking a year off, and freshmen Theresa Beinke (Monroeville, NJ) and Lisa Salvatore (Baltimore, MD). "I think this group will give the newcomers a chance to settle in and learn from a good crop of runners," said McGrath-Powell. "Our conference is tough, but we hope to move up. Boston University will be hard to beat as always and look for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine to be in the thick of it with us."
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