by DAVID SENTENDREY
Intern Sports Reporter

Appalachian State University’s cross country team is looking to maintain their image of dominance throughout the Southern Conference in 2008.

The ASU men’s cross country team is coming off an impressive 2007 season where they not only took full control of the SoCon, but were able to place 10th at the Southeast Regional Championships against schools such as North Carolina State University and the University of Louisville.

 At the 2007 SoCon Championships, the men’s cross team had eight members place in the top 11.

Out of the 84 runners who participated from the SoCon, ASU did not have a single runner finish below 28th.

The 2007 team did their job of bringing home another SoCon Championship. It was the seventh out of the last 11 years.

After losing three seniors from the 2007 team, all who had finished in the top 10 at the SoCon finals, is there reason to worry the 2008 team will not be able to live up to expectations?

Not at all, said head coach Michael Curcio.

“Depth has always been our strength,” Curcio said. “Although we have lost three great runners, we still have five returning from our top eight.”

Curcio is no stranger to success at ASU, his alma mater.

In his 14 years as head coach, he has been chosen as the SoCon’s Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year six times.

Besides the seven SoCon championships the men’s team has brought home, Curcio has led the women’s cross country team to four runner-up positions and one championship since 2000.

Even with this track record, a fourth consecutive SoCon Championship might not come easy.

Curcio said teams from the SoCon like Furman University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are getting better.

Senior runner Asmeron Desta said there is plenty of work to be done to make sure every runner gets on the same page.

Desta is also enjoying some of the leadership responsibilities that come along with being a senior on the team.

“I am trying to perform to the best of my ability every year and also help every one of my teammates get to that personal level as well,” Desta said. “Everyone needs to step up more.”

Senior women’s runner Meghan Gaffney is looking forward to competing this season after she was sidelined her junior year with knee problems.

“I’m just happy that I am going to have my senior year,” Gaffney said. “Last year I was unsure if I was ever going to be able to get back to the team. I just want to get to know all the new faces that I wasn’t able to meet last year when I was out with my injury.”

Curcio said he is confident Gaffney will prove to be a key member of the women’s team this year.

The women’s cross country team led ASU athletics with 27 members receiving conference honor roll, proving their work ethic goes far beyond athletics.

“The work ethic between school and the team goes hand in hand,” Curcio said. “It’s all about motivation.”

Friday afternoon will kick off the start of the 2008 season with the annual Covered Bridge Open at the Don Kennedy Trails of State Farm Lot at 5:30 p.m.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comments