September 1, 1998

Appalachian cross country squads figure to be in the thick of the race for the conference title

Jared Kavlock, Staff Writer
 

Will they or won’t they?  That seems to be the question surrounding Appalachian’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams and their chances of winning this year’s Southern Conference title.

With the women winning eight of the last 11 championships, and the men taking five titles over the same stretch, the past is in favor of the Mountaineers.

However, they will have to overcome youth and stay healthy if they hope to take the conference title on Oct. 31, at Davidson College.

The men’s team, coached by Michael Curcio, is looking to repeat as conference champions.  According to Curcio, the team must use its depth as an advantage, due to a lack of guaranteed leaders.

Curcio will also be expecting big things from sophomore Ben Bissette (last year’s Southern Conference Freshman of the Year), juniors Will Dickerson and Shane Austin, and senior Seth Peoples.  Beyond those top four, Curcio will be relying heavily on untested freshmen.

“The depth may have to come from freshmen,” said Curcio.  “We are as good as we have been in the past.  We can win [the conference], but a few things must happen,” he added.

For example, the team must remain injury-free.  Costly losses, like when Dickerson went down after the first meet last year, could derail the team’s championship hopes.

“We could finish anywhere from first to fourth,” said Curcio.  “University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is the best on paper, but East Tennessee State has always been good.”

The past 11 years in Southern Conference cross-country have been dominated by Appalachian and ETSU, with each school taking five titles.

As for the 1998 season, the defense of last year’s championship begins on Sept.  5 in Boone when ASU will host the Mountaineer Open.

Coach Ben Thomas, on the other hand, must bring his women’s team back from a disappointing fourth place finish a year ago.

In 1997, the women were slowed by the loss of sophomore Mary Jayne Harrelson for the season, as well as an ankle injury to senior Abby Slack, who was forced to sit out the conference championship.

This year, Thomas looks to turn the team around.

   “Last year was a tough year,” said Thomas.  “We had little senior leadership, but now we have two seniors ready to lead the team.”

Slack, who is now a senior, said that she must “lead by actions and set a good example for the younger girls.”

   Slack went on to say,  “This team can win the conference, but we must concentrate on working together and staying close.”

   Like the men’s team, the women also have developed a tradition of strength in cross-country.  Thomas is confident the team can return to the winning ways that brought it eight Southern Conference championships from 1986 to 1996.

   “The Southern Conference is the toughest it’s ever been,” said Thomas.  “But this group won in 1996, and they can do it again.”

   If the cross-country teams’ past successes are to continue, the coaches feel everything must fall into place.  While they believe they have the talent to win, a single injury could decimate their roster and perhaps cost them the season.