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EDINBORO, PA – Even long-time Edinboro
University cross country coach Doug Watts was caught off guard a
week ago with his teams’ strong showings in the PSAC Cross
Country Championship. Both teams have been decimated by injuries
this season, yet there was the women’s team edging Kutztown
for its ninth straight PSAC title. The men’s team, meanwhile,
captured second place with a strong showing.
On Saturday Watts and his Fighting Scots hope
they can continue the strong postseason run with the big prize on
the line – a trip to the NCAA Division II National
Championships on November 18 in Pensacola, FL. Edinboro will
compete in the NCAA Division II East Regional, hosted by Slippery
Rock University. The top two teams qualify for Nationals.
Watts has long emphasized that the Boro cross
country tradition is about hitting your peak in November. But even
he was caught by surprise a week ago.
“I had consciously not even
considered a trip to Nationals with either team,” admitted
Watts. “I saw little hope with three redshirts on each team
saving up for next season.
“Now, after the PSAC
Championships, I feel as excited (and nervous) as any year we’ve
had a chance to win Nationals. This is a reflection of how much
these kids have accepted the Edinboro cross country ideal of hard
work, dedication and willingness to ‘risk’.”
The women’s team, now ranked 13th,
finished with 61 points at the PSAC Championships to edge Kutztown
(68 points). Four Fighting Scots earned All-PSAC honors, led by
Rachael Lanzel (St. Mary’s, PA/St. Marys). After a
runner-up finish a year ago, the junior made it three straight
years for an Edinboro runner to win the race, finishing with a
time of 22:20. She earned All-American honors as a freshman.
Freshman Becca Nungesser (Clarence Center,
NY/Clarence) was next with an eighth place finish, followed by
sophomore Ashley Ferraro (Erie, PA/Central) in 13th place
and freshman Kristine Beringer (Lockport, NY/Lockport) in
17th place. Another freshman, Erica Bourgeois (Boonville, NY/
Adirondack), completed the Edinboro contingent.
“The women ‘stole’ the
PSAC crown from two teams ranked 11th and 13th nationally because
they raced from the gun – ignoring bad weather, standing
water and mud,” explained Watts. “The other teams ran a ‘smarter’
race, conservative in the first half, but we got too far ahead for
them to catch us.
“Kutztown will not make that
mistake this weekend, I’m sure,” he added.
The men’s team, meanwhile, came in second
to Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles finished with 45 points, with
Edinboro next with 100 points. Junior Dave Niemira
(Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) continued his strong season
with a sixth place finish (26:23). He led a group of three
All-PSAC runners, joined by sophomore Josh Arthur (Turin,
NY/South Lewis Central), who was 11th (27:00) and freshman
Eric Brenner (Wooster, OH/Wooster), who placed 17th
(27:16). Other Boro runners included sophomore David Blend
(North Canton, OH/Hoover) (28th – 27:33); freshman Ryan
Sheer (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (38th – 27:51); senior
Jeff McCabe (Exeter, PA/Wyoming Area) (41st –
27:54); and redshirt freshman Andy Thoman (Strongsville,
OH/Strongsville) (56th – 28:27).
Niemira noted that he feels the Fighting Scots
can improve by 20-to-30 points at the Regionals.
As for Watts, a well-know motivator with a
sense of humor, he placed paper targets on each runners’
backs at Tuesday’s practice, noting “No one paid any
attention to you before Conference.”
He then warned his team, “ I guarantee you
that every team will be targeting you, so you might as well get
used to it tonight.”
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