North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Cross Country Ready To Go The Distance
8/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Aug. 12, 2002
The 2002 season promises to be full of excitement for the NC State cross country teams, which are coming off of their best combined seasons in school history. The season was highlighted by the Wolfpack women's runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship, but the list of achievements is much longer than that. The men also placed in the NCAA top 10, both teams won ACC titles, five athletes earned All-America honors, and 10 athletes received All-ACC notices, tying a record NC State had achieved twice before.
"Last season was certainly big for us, but now we look at it as something we can hopefully build on and reach an even higher level," says NC State head coach Rollie Geiger, who has been named ACC Coach of the Year in cross country an incredible 22 times. "We have a lot of good athletes returning this year, and even for some of the younger athletes who didn't play a big role, last year was a chance to learn what it takes to move to another level nationally."
The NC State men's and women's cross country teams have long set the standard for dominance in the ACC. In the last 19 years, NC State has won at least one of the two team titles every year but one. Since 1991, the Wolfpack has swept both the men's and women's titles seven times - a feat no other school has ever accomplished.
Success like that is never taken for granted.
"Our first goal every year, for both the men and women, is to win the ACC championship," Geiger says. That focus doesn't change, even if in some years it may turn out that our team has a clear edge. But maintaining that focus pays off at a time like this, when our conference is at an all-time high."
Three ACC women's teams placed in the top 10 at the NCAA meet last year, and at least five teams could qualify for the national championships this season. Among the men, 2001 marked the second year in a row that three teams from the ACC advanced to the NCAA Championships.
"I think our entire conference surprised people last year, especially the women," Geiger says. "We kind of slugged it out with each other, and no one realized that seven of the top 25 runners in the country were in this one conference. Now everyone knows it, but we're as prepared for it as anyone and it should help us stay at such a high level. Certainly if we can reach out first goals of winning the ACC titles, we'll know we're prepared to achieve the later goals of reaching the NCAA meet and placing in the top 10 again."
MEN
 Dean Bowker is a two-time All-ACC selection.  |
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In 2001 the Wolfpack developed a remarkably consistent and tight pack, typically having one of the smallest gaps in the country between their first and fifth runners. With many runners from that group returning, they will attempt to extend a record that includes five NCAA top 10 finishes in the last six years. Senior Chad Pearson was the Wolfpack's top runner last season at the ACC (2nd) and NCAA (31st) Championships. This spring he set an NC State record at the 10,000 meters, running 28:43.
"Chad is someone who has really improved at a remarkable rate throughout his career, and that hasn't tapered off, even looking at what he did in track this spring compared to last David Patterson and Dean Bowker fall," Geiger says. "He wasn't really highly rated coming out of high school, but he is now getting to where he has to be seen as one of the top runners in the country. His consistency and strength as a senior is something we will really rely on."
Junior Andy Smith is a two-time All-ACC runner who earned All-America honors as a freshman after his 45th place finish at the NCAA Championships. Smith was also an NCAA qualifier in the steeplechase this spring, his first season in the event. "Even though he has only been here two years, Andy is a real veteran in terms of how much experience he has in running at a high level," Geiger says. "I expect to see him improving on the All-America level he has reached in the past."
Junior David Christian ran in the top five for the Wolfpack in every race last season, and earned All-ACC honors with his ninth-place finish at the ACC meet. A pair of fifth-year seniors also bring All-ACC credentials to the lineup. David Patterson was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 1998, and has been a standout in track as well. Dean Bowker is a two-time All-ACC selection. Another key member of the lineup is junior Devin Swann, who placed 11th as a freshman in the 2000 ACC Championships and was NC State's third finisher at the NCAA Championships last fall.
"A real key for us will be the guys who could step up a notch to run with Chad and Andy," Geiger says. "David Christian and Devin Swann made real progress in that direction a year ago, by developing a high level of consistency. That experience will really help them this year. David Patterson has shown recently in track that he can run with almost anyone on our team, and we expect him to be back in the front group. Dean Bowker has clearly shown his value with two all-conference finishes."
Several returning runners will be expected to make significantly larger contributions in 2002. Redshirt freshman Kurtis Marlowe leads the way. Marlowe, a Division II state champion in Michigan as well as an all-state basketball player, made tremendous progress in his first year training with the Wolfpack and could make a breakthrough when he joins the lineup this fall. Sophomore Ricky Brookshire was a scorer for the Wolfpack, placing 14th at the Great American Festival, and finishing 20th at the ACC Championships.
Junior Nick Mangum ran very well for the Wolfpack early in 2001, finishing 16th overall as the team's sixth runner at the Great American Festival. Sophomore John Huber and redshirt freshman Jesse Rhodenbaugh also have the ability to contribute to the Wolfpack effort.
"We're looking to have at least a few of these guys who have not competed at the NCAA Championships level make that move up this year, and all of them are capable of doing it," Geiger says. "It will especially be interesting to see what Kurtis can do when he gets a chance at this level, because he had pretty limited competition in high school and was splitting time with basketball. Nick and John both looked very much like they will be able to contribute based on what they were doing in the spring. Ricky and Jesse are guys who really have the speed from performing well at middle distances in track, and are developing the strength to make that work for them in cross country."
With all of the talent returning for NC State, it would seem, like there would be little opportunity for new freshmen to make the leap up to the longer college distance and contribute. But with the Wolfpack's strong recruiting class, any of several incoming runners could become a regular in the lineup. Allen Bader of Ohio has the best credentials of the group. Bader became only the third male to win two state cross country titles in Ohio Division I history. He also reached the national finals in the FootLocker cross country championships and has run times of 9:05 for two miles and 4:13 for the mile. Andy Wigton was the New York state 3200 meter champ and has a best of 9:03. Virginian Bryce Ruiz was AAU champ at 1500 and 3000 meters and has a 1600 meter best of 4:11.
Mathew Kassouf is a former high school teammate of NC State's Andy Smith, and ran on the national champion four-mile relay team this year. Two of the top North Carolina runners also join the Wolfpack. Lance Hall was a three-time state champ in cross country and track at Ragsdale High School. Colin Cronin was 4A state runner-up in the 3200 for Mount Tabor High, and has a 3000 meter best of 8:39.
WOMEN
 Junior Kristin Price earned All-America honors last year. |
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As NC State looks to win its third consecutive ACC title, and seventh in the last eight years, the team returns two of its All-Americans and a deep roster of talented runners, as well as several strong newcomers.
The Wolfpack will have to replace some key runners from the recent championship teams. Christy Nichols and Katie Sabino, both two-time All-Americans, have graduated, while All-ACC runners Beth Fonner and Beth Kraft have also completed their eligibility.
"We have tremendous leadership returning for us up front, but we also lost a big chunk of what made us an NCAA second-place team," head coach Rollie Geiger says of the women. "The challenge for us will be to make the progress we need in order to keep the team at that level."
Junior Kristin Price made an immediate impact last year, her first year at NC State. She finished fourth at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish by a Wolfpack runner since current associate head coach Laurie Henes when she finished fourth in 1991. Price won the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters this spring in track, capping a year in which she won three ACC championships and also earned All-America honors four times.
"Kristin really broke through on the national level in cross country, and she reached the point in track where she is a threat to win any race she runs," Geiger says. "It is difficult to improve on a fourth place finish, but she is someone who could do that."
Price will be joined in the front by fellow junior Megan Coombs, who was also named All-American after her 13th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Coombs followed that by qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 3000 meters indoors and the steeplechase outdoors, earning All-America honors in the steeplechase.
"Having two of the top 13 runners in the nation on one team is big," Geiger says. "To have both of them returning for two more seasons is a huge accomplishment for our program. It really gives us a solid foundation to build off of, but now we need our younger runners to step up and do that."
The Wolfpack has a number of experienced runners who can help keep the team near the top of the national rankings. Sophomore Josianne Lauber placed 15th at the Southeast Regional last year, coming in as the team's fifth runner in that race to secure the regional title. She also placed 15th at the ACC Championships. Sophomore Janelle Vadnais also competed at the ACC and Southeast Regional, and reached the ACC finals in the 1500 meters in track.
Junior Diana Henderson returns to the lineup after provisionally qualifying for the NCAA track championships in the 10,000 meters in 2001. Henderson was a top-five runner for the Wolfpack at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Senior Jennifer Modliszewski earned All-ACC honors in 1998 and was named ACC Freshman of the Year. She performed well in track this spring and should contribute this season after battling injuries in the past. Sophomore Erin Swain redshirted last season but competed for the Wolfpack in the NCAA Championships in 2000. Sophomore Sara Graybill also returns to the NC State lineup after missing last season.
"We certainly have the talent within our program to step up and replace those people we lose, especially the runners who already have experience at the NCAA meet," Henes says. "Josie, Diana and Erin have all had very good training through the summer and are ready to move to a higher level. What is really encouraging is seeing Jennifer running well again, because she is a person who has already proved she can run at that higher level."
Sophomore Kara Price, Kristin's twin sister, could make a name for herself after redshirting last fall and training in the offseason. Kara was an all-conference runner at Radford as a freshman before transferring to NC State. Freshman Ginger Wheeler, the 2000 North Carolina 4A champion in cross country as a senior in high school, redshirted last fall but could make an impact this after a year of college running.
NC State has an outstanding group of newcomers who could potentially make a huge impact and add depth to the roster. Junior Renee Gunning, a transfer from Villanova, was one of the top runners in the country as a senior in high school and is expected to be among the team leaders right away. The Wolfpack also has three top freshmen who could immediately compete for a spot in the lineup.
Julia Lucas of Charlotte won the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs at this year's North Carolina 4A state meet, and was also the national champion for the indoor mile. The Wolfpack also welcomes Ohio natives Kris Roth and Amy Arnold to the team. Roth was a FootLocker finalist, while Arnold was a state champion.
"It's hard to know what you will get with people who haven't competed for you before, but we expect some major contributions from our newcomers," Henes says. "Certainly Renee Gunning has the talent and experience to step in and help right away, and based on what we've seen in her training with us in the past year Kara Price can also be a major contributor. Among the freshmen, Julia Lucas and Kris Roth are the most likely to step in right away, but all of them have the ability and it's just a question of who adjusts most quickly."
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Men (2)
Chad Pearson
Andy Smith
Women (2)
Megan Coombs
Kristin Price
RETURNING ALL-ACC
Men (5)
Dean Bowker
David Patterson
Chad Pearson
Andy Smith
David Christian
Women(2)
Megan Coombs
Jennifer Modliszewski
Kristin Price
LETTERWINNERS LOST
Men(3)
Chris Dugan
Chris Seaton
Ryan Woods
Women(6)
Melinda Dubose
Beth Fonner
Beth Kraft
Molly Purser
Lindsey Rogers
Katie Sabino
