Princeton Invite:

Introduction:

This weekend, the UMBC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams head to the fields around Princeton University to take part in the Princeton Invite. The Princeton Invite will be the last meet of the regular season for the Retrievers with the America East Conference Meet less than three weeks away to be held on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. With both teams coming off fourth place finishes at the George Mason Invite, Coach Matt Gittermann is looking for specific things in regards to potential success at the Conference Championships, “for the men, this is really just a fitness test for us. Outside of the first meet, all the other courses we have run this year have been tough courses, so what we are looking to do here is get a better idea of where we are at on a fast course. For the women, in addition to getting a better idea of where we are at time wise, we are very close to putting together a solid pack of girls across the line in a short period of time.”

Men’s Preview:

“I felt very bipolar about the George Mason Invite,” Coach Gittermann replied when asked about the team’s performance at the last meet, “on one hand, three of our top four runners had a really poor outing for a variety of reasons, however, the rest of the team ran a really solid meet and showed that we have great depth through our ninth runner.” Leading the way was sophomore Eric Schuler, who crossed the line in 19th place, leading the Men’s team for the first time. Juniors Tommy Eldridge and Vinny DiSalvo were next to cross the line, while freshmen Hassan Omar and Austin Hayslett rounded out the scoring five. “There was about a thirty second span between these five runners, which is great. However, if we can get Jake Albino and Redatu Semeon to join that group and we shrink the total time frame, then we are talking about dropping seven runners in about a twenty second span which is really what our goal is,” said Gittermann.

Eric Schuler – So.

At the conclusion of the meet this weekend, the Retrievers will be two weeks out from the Conference Championship, and Coach Gittermann has a couple specific goals in mind, “the first things we will be looking for is a return to form from Brandan McGee and Todd Cowing who should be our top two runners come the Conference meet. The second thing will be taking advantage of a fast course, and really dropping our times in anticipation of a fast Conference course.” The full squad will toe the line with seven runners participating in the Championship Race (McGee, Cowing, Schuler, Eldridge, DiSalvo, Omar, Hayslett), and the remaining participating in what is usually a fast Open Race.

Women’s Preview:

“We have run four races thus far this year, and we have had three different lead runners,” reveal Coach Gittermann, “not to mention a fourth girl who has been our second runner that past three meets.” The season opened with newcomer Sarah Daly cross the line first at the Richmond Invite, only to have Cody Mezebish lead the women at the Navy Invite. On the rugged hills of Oregon Ridge Park, junior Kirsten McGovern stormed to the front for a third place finish at the Towson Invite, and last weekend Mezebish ran a personal best time on a super hilly course to lead the Retrievers. All the while, freshman Nicole Dawson was the second girl across the line the past three meets.

Cody Mezebish – Jr.

“If we throw in Harmony Roche and Julie Gessler, that gives a tight group of six that has been consistently running together all season,” said Gittermann, “and I feel that there is potential for three more girls to finish within spitting distance of the rest of the girls.” Like the men, Gittermann is using this meet to get a better idea of where his women’s team is at time wise on a fast course. “With the make-up of our women’s team, we are a better team on a faster course due to an abundance of mid-distance runners on the roster. Hills do not give us much of an advantage, however, once you flatten out the course, that allows our speedier girls to rev up the whole time,” revealed Gittermann. Twelve runners will toe the line, a season high, with Mezebish, McGovern, Dawson, Daly, Gessler, Roche, and Oputa in the Championship race.