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2000-2001 Press Release Index
LOCK HAVEN, PA - The Edinboro University men's and women's cross country teams successfully defended their NCAA East Regional titles today at Lock Haven University. That is the ninth consecutive regional title for the men's team while the women captured their third straight crown. Individually, seniors Jeff Barker (Barto, PA/Boyertown) and Carrie McKeon (Altoona, PA/Altoona) ran away with the fifth straight individual titles for both the Edinboro men's and women's teams.
In addition, after voting by the region's coaches, Barker and McKeon were named the NCAA East Region Athletes of the Year while Edinboro head coach Doug Watts was named as the Coach of the Year for both the men and the women's competition. That marks his third straight women's award and second consecutive men's award.
The Fighting Scot teams were the meet favorites after defending their respective Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles last Saturday, October 28, at Slippery Rock University. Both squads dominated the field. The men placed their five scorers all among the top 12 for a team total of 28 points. Shippensburg was the men's runner- up. The Red Raiders finished with 118 points. On the women's side, the Fighting Scots placed all five scorers in the top 14 on their way to a 30 point day. Kutztown University was the women's runner-up as they tallied 127 points.
From the start of the men's race, the Edinboro trio of Barker, junior Yi Min Wu (Tian Jin, China), and sophomore Aaron Rowe (Dublin, OH/Dublin Scioto) were in control and began to pull away from the pack. Until the four mile mark, Wu raced along right on Barker's heels, but as Watts gave the go-ahead to surge, Barker pulled away and Wu was left to chase his teammate in his hope to win his third straight regional crown.
Barker, just as he did at the conference meet, ran a smooth and controlled race. "Jeff ran really well," commented Watts. "He ran easy and looked really strong at the finish."
Wu and Rowe also ran well within themselves and look to be in great shape heading into the national championships at Cal-Poly Ponoma in Pomona, CA, on November 18.
Rounding out the race for the Fighting Scots were junior Ryan Kelly (Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach) in 10th (31:56), sophomores Nat Wibberly (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing) in 12th (31:59) and Kimmo Lasilla (Veteli, Finland) in 15th (32:06), and freshman Joe Reynolds (North East, PA/North East) in 29th (33:01). Barker, Wu, Rowe, Kelly, Wibberly, and Lasilla all earned All-East Region awards.
"I am very pleased with our race today," shared Watts. "We have been training all year for the regional and national meets and if you look back at last week's results and compare them to this week, you'll see we are beginning to peak in time for the national meet."
The women's race boasted six former All-Americans and Watts predicted a much tougher overall race for his team. Though the Edinboro front four swept second through fifth place last weekend at the PSAC meet, Watts knew his team would have a tough time packing together up front. The team did rise to the challenge as they placed six runners in the top 15.
Trailing McKeon were junior Kathy Breisch (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) in third (21:44), senior Ashley Hansen (Erie, PA/McDowell) in fifth (21:57), junior Lisa Petsche (Dublin, OH/Dublin Coffman) in seventh (22:00), and juniors Jocelyn Smith (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) 14th (22:43.18) and Lynann Lorenz (Vestal, NY/Vestal) 15th (22:43.51). All six earned all- region honors while junior Amy Shinskie (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) was the final Edinboro runner placing 24th (23:00).
"For the first time in recent memory, I am pleased with our depth on the women's team," exalted Watts. "The push between our fifth and sixth runners was tremendous. Jocelyn out kicked Lynann in the chute and that is what it takes to be a solid team top to bottom."
The longtime-mentor was especially pleased with McKeon's performance. "Carrie's win epitomizes exactly how I feel about running," elaborated Watts. "It was a personal victory for her. She had a very bad health year last season and she struggled through in order to help the team. For her to come back and get better each race... this was a huge race for her."
Now the Fighting Scots return home to train for the national meet and Watts feels that his team will represent the PSAC and East Region well.
"We are going out there (Pomona, CA) looking to win a trophy. We won't win the national championships and we won't finish second. But beyond that, anything is possible if we train well and run smart."
~ Fighting Scots ~
Created on ... November 4, 2000