Cross country teams hopeful at start of season

One side will build upon youth for the future. The other side expects youth to contribute to an ACC Championship this season.

Both the North Carolina men's and women's cross country teams will feature young runners in the 2005 season, which kicked off Sept. 2 at the Wake Forest Relays and continues Saturday at the Carolina Challenge - the team's only home meet of the season.

However, the women's team is expected to be a top competitor for the ACC title, while the men hope to improve their standing for the future. The women finished 10th in the nation in 2004, one of the best finishes in school history.

"On the women's side, the ACC Championship is always our first goal," said coach Michael Whittlesey. "On the men's side, it is a goal, but we are not in a position to compete for a title."

The women will be led by All-American Carol Henry, who will once again anchor the team. Senior Cassie King and junior Megan Kaltenbach will compete to be in the top three.

In the Wake Forest Relays, Henry and Kaltenbach were the women's top pair, finishing fourth. Henry also had the sixth-fastest individual run.

Other than the veteran trio, the Tar Heels will field mostly freshmen and sophomores in their top eight.

Although inexperienced, the Tar Heels are not lacking in talent. Five women on the team have won national championships at either the college or high school level.

"It will be a new experience for the girls when they will not be the No. 1 runner like they were in high school," Whittlesey said. "We have a very talented and competitive group."

For the men, junior Pablo Durana might be head and shoulders above everyone.

Durana was named the ACC's Performer of the Week after his Wake Forest Relays performance.

Durana ran the fastest individual leg of the event with a time of 21:56 and teamed with Jeffrey Peterson to win the men's paired competition.

"Just looking back, I've never been good at hilly courses," he said. "That is something I've been working on and Wake was a race that I felt really good about hills."

Whittlesey said that in order to have a good season, the next four after Durana must close the gap and run as a pack.

Peterson is the No. 2 runner and is expected along with Durana to lead the men.

A pair of Drew's - Felts and Smith - will contribute as the No. 3 and No. 4 runners, respectively.

"I think the two will consistently make big splashes throughout the season," Whittlesey said.

The development of youth will go a long way in determining the successes of both the men's and women's seasons.

Said Whittlesey: "How well the freshmen respond to adversity and how well they respond when races don't go as planned will determine the outcome of the season."

 

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