Cross country team eager to dominate the PSAC this fall

The Shippensburg men’s cross-country team had an impressive team last year, finishing in the Top 3 in five out of their eight total contests of last fall but will need to replace their star runner from last year.

Stephen Schelander was the catalyst of the team last year but with his graduation, there is a void that will need to be filled. Scott Armstrong, Bernard England and Matt Gillette will be the greatest chance of filling Schelander’s shoes. All of these runners played key parts in the team’s success last year.

All of these players earned top finishing spots in most of the contests last year and with all of them returning for at least one more season, look for them to continue putting up big numbers and helping SU build on last season’s success.

The Shippensburg women’s cross-country team was just as impressive as the men’s team. In fact, the women finished first in five of their eight contests, earning three of those consecutively, two against Lock Haven University, and one against Slippery Rock University.

With those facts, can the women stay on top of their game to continue with their dominating performance into the 2012 season?

Neely Spence was the only runner who had consistent, solid numbers throughout the season. While the rest of the roster put up impressive numbers for one contest, it would be followed by far more discouraging statistics in the following contests. The women’s cross-country team is a solid, well-trained squad and will look to finish first again this year.

Unfortunately, like the men’s Stephen Schelander, Spence will no longer be a part of the women’s team due to graduation.

In order for SU’s women’s team to mirror and even top the success they had last year, consistency will be the key. The 2012 roster will need to keep the solid numbers up on a more consistent basis, rather than one runner finishing first for one race and then finishing in 48 th place in the next contest.

However, the overall team statistics speak for themselves. If the women’s team can keep its eye on the prize this year, it will have another smooth season.