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EDINBORO, PA – A month ago Edinboro head
coach Doug Watts figured his long run in the NCAA Division II
Cross Country National Championships would end. With three key
runners redshirting on each team, the 2006 campaign was something
Watts wasn’t used to – a rebuilding year. 
The only thing is, no one told the remaining
runners. In a testament to Watts’ ability to mold a team to
perform at its best down the stretch, the women’s cross
country team won the PSAC Championship and finished second at the
recent East Regional. The men’s cross country team finished
second in both events.
Thanks to the second place finish at the
regional, both teams qualified for Nationals. This year’s
event takes on even greater significance, since it is part of the
NCAA Division II National Championships Fall Festival. A total of
six different sports and 70 teams are participating in the
four-day event, which includes NCAA Division II championships in
men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s
soccer, women’s volleyball and women’s field hockey.
Pensacola, Florida is hosting the Fall
Festival. The cross country championships are scheduled for
Saturday, November 18 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
The men’s race gets underway at 9:00 a.m., followed by the
women’s race at 10:15 a.m.
The Edinboro women’s team enters Nationals
ranked 13th, while the men’s team is ranked 17th. Watts feels
his teams could better those rankings, although he has several
concerns. One is the weather. A hot day would not be in Edinboro’s
favor. Forecasts call for a high in the mid-60’s in
Pensacola, but the morning starting times should make for
favorable conditions.
“The girls are ranked 13th and
the guys are 17th,” Watts pointed out. “But after
looking at the Division I results when we ran, I think we’re
better than that. But it’s a fine line. Will it be cool, will
it be hot? We want to try and score in the low teens.”
Edinboro’s runner with the best chance for
All-American honors is Rachael Lanzel (St. Marys, PA/St.
Marys). The junior won the PSAC individual crown and finished
second at the regional. This marks her third trip to Nationals. As
a freshman she earned All-American honors with a 24th place
finish. She is a three-time All-PSAC and All-Region runner.
“Rachael’s goal is to run in
the lead pack,” noted Watts. “She can run in the top
ten. The rest of the team, we’ll just have to see if they can
put aside that it’s the National meet and to run like they’ve
run in the past.”
Freshmen Becca Nungesser (Clarence Center,
NY/Clarence) and Kristine Beringer (Lockport, NY/Lockport)
joined Lanzel as All-East Region runners. Nungesser took home
seventh place, while Beringer was 14th. Freshman Erica
Bourgeois (Boonville, NY/ Adirondack) fell one spot shy of
All- Region status, coming in 16th. Sophomore Ashley Ferraro
(Erie, PA/Central) was 19th, and redshirt freshman Kelly
Bergeron (Wallingsford, CT/Lyman Hall) was 50th.
On the men’s side, Dave Niemira
(Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) has enjoyed an outstanding
season, and another strong performance could garner him
All-American honors. The junior was sixth at both the PSAC
Championships and East Regional.
“Dave is a border-line
All-American,” related Watts. “He’s put together
two good meets back-to-back. Can he pop the third. Besides that it’s
a completely inexperienced team.”
Niemira was the lone Boro runner to earn
All-Region accolades. Jeff McCabe (Exeter, PA/ Wyoming Area),
just missed, finishing 16th, while sophomore Josh Arthur
(Turin, NY/ South Lewis Central) was 18th and freshman Eric
Brenner (Wooster, OH/Wooster) was 20th. Junior David Blend
(North Canton, OH/Hoover) was the final scorer for Edinboro,
coming in 28th. Redshirt freshman Andy Thoman (Strongsville,
OH/Strongsville) and freshman Ryan Sheer (Liverpool,
NY/Liverpool) completed the Edinboro contingent, finishing
53rd and 79th, respectively.
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