2007 Preview
As the start of 2007 season nears, the runners on the Swarthmore men's cross country team look to pass their fourth-place finish at the 2006 Centennial Conference Championship and collect a conference championship. The 2007 Centennial pre-season poll, voted on the conference coaches, echoes last season's results, listing the Garnet men fourth.
Head coach Peter Carroll, entering his ninth year, turns to a collection of veterans to replace departed All-Region and All-Centennial runner Vernon Chaplin '07. Carroll has Erik Saka '09 (Quincy, Ill./ Quincy) and Jonathan Shoop '08 (Incline Village, Nev. / Incline) leading this year's collection of Garnet harriers. Saka, who began the year as the team's nominal fourth runner, improved throughout 2006 earning All-Mid East Region (finishing 34th) and second-team All-Centennial. Shoop was also named to the All-Centennial Conference second team, finishing 11th at the championship one position ahead of Saka.
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| Ross Weller '08 is one of the top returning Swarthmore harriers. |
Ross Weller '08 (McConnellsburg, Pa. /Mercersburg Academy) just missed All-CC accolades, running 16th at the conference meet and has made major strides in lowering his distance times, earning a Centennial bronze medal in the steeplechase at the outdoor track & field championships.
A young pack of runners gives the Garnet plenty of depth and the belief that a successful fall is right around the bend. Dan Hodson '09 (Trumbull, Conn. /Fairfield Prep), who finished 35th at the DeSales Invitational, and Micah Katz '08 (Stevens Point, Wis. /Stevens Point Area) will go a long way towards helping the team place higher in the rankings. Other retuning runners include Patrick Kolodogy '09 (Toledo, Ohio /St. Francis de Sales), Jaymes Columbo '10 (Lake Ariel, Pa. /Western Wayne), David Riccardi '10 (Syracuse, N.Y. / Westhill), Chris Sawyer '10 (Millburn, N.J. / Millburn), Tyler Stivala '10 (Verona, N.J. / Verona), Jonnie Tompkins '10 (Swarthmore, Pa. / Strath Haven) and Andrew Van Buren '10 (Hudson, Ohio / Western Reserve Academy).
Running in their first meet on September 1st, the Garnet will travel to the Delaware Valley Invitational starting at 10:30 a.m. The team will return home on September 8th for the annual Alumni Meet set to begin at 12:00.
CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE PRE-SEASON POLL
School (1st place votes)1. Haverford (8)
2. Dickinson (1)
3. Muhlenberg
4. SWARTHMORE
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Gettysburg
7. F&M
8. McDaniel
9. Ursinus