Rowan University 2010 Men’s Cross Country Outlook
Friday, September 10, 2010
press release
The Rowan University men’s cross country team has a strong group of veterans returning this season. The Profs did not have one senior on last year’s squad. In 2009, Rowan took second place at the Collegiate Track Conference (CTC) Championships. They finished third at the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships, the Sea Gull Invitational and the Delaware Invitational. The Profs were 15thoverall at the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
Leading the pack of returnees are Eric DuBois (jr. Pittsgrove, NJ/A.P. Schalick), Stephen Mennitt (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) and Jake McCormack (jr. Cliffwood, NJ/Matawan Reg.). DuBois earned NCAA Atlantic All-Region honors with a 34th place finish (26:13.0) at the regional championships. He came in seventh (27:06.52) at the conference championships and was on the NJAC All-Conference first team. In addition, DuBois took 13th place (27:05.86) at the CTC Championships.
Mennitt was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year and was an All-Conference first team selection. At the NJAC Championships, he captured fourth place with a time of 26:59.60. Mennitt came in third (26:32) at the Sea Gull Invitational and was seventh (26:38.79) at the CTC Championships. He was selected the NJAC Rookie of the Week twice. McCormack had an eighth place finish (27:18.46) at the NJAC Championships and earned All-Conference second team honors. He took third at the Delaware Invitational (27:06.15) and was fifth (26:35.72) at the CTC Championships.
“We have three very strong runners (Steve, Eric and Jake) even though they are two juniors and a sophomore,” stated head coach Bill Fritz. “They have experience and will be good in
The Profs also have back Jeff Terebey (sr. Shamong, NJ/Seneca) who has been on the team for four years. In 2009, he finished sixth (27:35.33) at the Delaware Invitational. Terebey ran a season best of 27:17 at the Paul Short Invitational. At the NCAA Atlantic Regional, he finished in 27:42.8.
“Jeff has gotten much better over the summer,” Fritz said. “He has really trained hard. Now we are looking for the fifth, sixth and seventh runners.”
Fritz is expecting veterans Brian Quilty (sr. Brick, NJ/Saint Rose), Mike Carotenuto (so. Port Monmouth, NJ/Middletown N.) and Stephen Hoffman (jr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) to contribute. Last year, Quilty came in 15th place (27:11.22) at the CTC Championships and 23rd(28:25.77) at the NJAC Championships. His best time of 27:09 was at the Paul Short Invitational. Carotenuto finished 29th (28:50.52) at the conference championships. He had times of 27:21 and 27:48.45 at the Paul Short Invitational and the CTC Championships respectively. In his rookie season, Hoffman ran a season best (27:58) at the Paul Short Invitational. He registered a time of 28:32 at the Sea Gull Invitational.
“Brian is always a contributor for us,” commented Fritz. “I look to Mike to continue his success after a great outdoor track season. Stephen (Hoffman) is better prepared after one year of experience. We have a good core of seven to start off with along with two freshmen (Jeff Tauriello and Will Smith) with talent.”
The Profs’ freshmen class includes Jeff Tauriello (fr. Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park), Will Smith (fr. Cranford, NJ/Cranford), Tom Gallaher (fr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.), Richard McKean (fr. Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI), Joe Mineo (fr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.), Evan Norwood (fr. Matawan, NJ/Matawan Reg.) and Ethan Wolmark (fr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee). They join veterans Ben Chapman (jr. Beverly, MA/Beverly), Andrew Gulya (so. Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens), Pat Rindt (jr. Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Reg.) and Ryan Montaperto (so. Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Reg.). Last season, Chapman only competed in two meets. He had a time of 28:32 at the Sea Gull Invitational. Gulya ran 29:21 in the Paul Short JV race. Rindt finished in 28:43.97 at the CTC Championships. Montaperto had his fastest time of 28:00 at the Paul Short Invitational. He ran 29:14.27 at the conference championships.
“The other guys are working hard,” explained Fritz. “I look for one or two that will come to the forefront. Ben showed a lot of promise his freshman year. I look for him to return to his original form. Andrew has improved over his freshman season and Pat is battling back. Ryan has a tremendous amount of experience and natural talent.”
“Tom has shown potential,” Fritz continued. “Joe looks good at times and is just waiting for a breakthrough race. Ethan is motivated and interested. I expect him to come along.”
The pack of veteran runners also consists of Nick Huddy (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor), John Fessler (sr. Rancocas, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.), Dale Holzer (jr. Erial, NJ/Timber Creek Reg.) and Ryan Hoxworth (so. Vineland, NJ/home schooled). In 2009, Huddy ran his top time of 28:44.57 at the CTC Championships. Fessler and Holzer are starting the season with injuries. They both competed in five meets last year. Fessler ran his best time of 28:30 in the Paul Short JV race. He finished in 29:10.20 at the CTC Championships. Holzer’s top time (28:35.81) came at the CTCs. Hoxworth competed at the CTC and NJAC Championships.
“Our front four/five runners will be pretty strong,” said Fritz. “We should surprise some people in late October, early November. The worst that can happen is that we will have a few individuals that qualify for nationals. This year the Atlantic Regional is at SUNY Oneonta and we are going to race on the course during the regular season.”
Last weekend, Rowan started the season with a third place finish out of nine teams at the Sea Gull Opener. The Profs will run at the Oneonta State Airfield Invitational on Friday, September 17. The CTC Championships are scheduled for Saturday, October 16 at Gloucester County College. Richard Stockton College will host the NJAC Championships on Saturday, October 30. The NCAA Atlantic Regional is on Saturday, November 13 at Fortin Park in Oneonta, NY.