By Jesse Welte
While sports fans around the country focus on whether or not the football and basketball teams at the University of Louisville can live up to their expectations for this year, they might miss the coming out party for the men’s and women’s cross country teams.
In the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll for 2007 released last week, the U of L’s men’s cross country team is ranked 15th, its highest ranking ever. This comes as no surprise as the Cardinals have four of their best runners from last year returning.
Senior Wesley Korir earned All-Region and All-Big East honors last year, finishing as either the first or second runner in all of U of L’s races last season. The Cards also have senior All-Region runner Soimo Kiplagat, All-Region and All-Big East junior Cory Thorne and All-Region sophomore Michael Eaton coming back from their record-setting team last year.
“Although we’re honored by the preseason ranking, we’re still a long way from November and the national championships,” U of L head coach Ron Mann said. “The only poll that matters in my mind is the one on the Tuesday morning after the NCAA Championships. National polls are an indicator of potential, but realizing that potential is in the hands of our team.”
U of L showed their potential in the season opener at the Mid-America Opener hosted by the University of Evansville. Korir, Kiplagat, Thorne, and Eaton finished in the top four spots respectively.
Not to be outdone however, the women’s team showcased their talents in Evansville. Sophomore Tarah McKay won the race to lead the Cards, finishing in the top seven spots.
Following McKay were freshman Emily Borsare, sophomores Kelsey Page, and Kortni Dukes, seniors Sarah Weir and Taryn Gibson, and sophomore Kat Alcorn, who finished second through seventh places respectively.
“The thing that surprised me the most today was that our women made it look very easy,” Mann said. “We ran as a much tighter group today than at any point last season. Tarah did a nice job of leading us out and setting a perfect pace, and I was also impressed with Emily Borsare, who ran extremely easily. And we look to be seven-deep at the top right now and that will really help us as the season moves forward.”
Both teams hope their potential and early success will carry them to the top this year. The 2007 Big East Championships will be held in Louisville at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park on Oct. 27. Also, the NCAA Southeast Regional will be hosted at Sawyer Park.
Last year, the men’s team finished a record-setting 15th overall at the NCAA Championships. They will look to improve on that finish later this season in November. The women should make a strong showing as well with the talent they have returning.
So while fans are wondering how the football team will finish later this winter and where the basketball team will be in March, don’t be surprised if the newspaper in November reports about record-setting seasons from both the men and women’s cross country teams.
