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The Rice Thresher
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by Jason Gershman thresher editorial staff You'd think sweeping last year's Western Athletic Conference men's and women's cross country titles would make it easy for the Owls to relax and look back at their past successes. Instead, the only direction they're looking is forward - and they can see that it will take a year of hard work and dedication to follow up last year's results. "The team goals are to win conference and qualify for nationals," junior John Jura said. "Everything we do now, we do with these goals in mind." To repeat as champions, the women's team will have to do without some of its top runners from last season. The Owls lost last season's top runner, Shaquandra Roberson, who graduated in May along with teammate Malia Mason. An unexpected loss for the women's team this season is Tanya Wright, last year's WAC Freshman of the Year, who will be training for October's World Junior Track and Field Championships. Two experienced runners who missed last season, however, will be returning to the team. Junior Erin Brand, who qualified for the NCAA Championships two years ago, is almost fully healed from an injury which kept her sidelined last year. Additionally, senior Marisa Bono has returned to the squad after studying abroad last year. With Brand and Bono back in the fold, the Owls are optimistic heading into the season. "Shaq will definitely be missed," junior Katie Waite said. "She was an awesome runner and a good team leader. Erin Brand being healthy again is a definite plus, and Marisa Bono and Liza Ruckman have worked hard this summer. ... But so have the rest of the girls. Training has been intense since day one." Waite and sophomores Ruckman, Summer Bell and Aimee Teteris are all back from the young and talented team that won last year's WAC title. Additionally, three freshmen - Whitney McAlpine, Shannon Murto, and Magdalena Sandoval - add more youth to a roster containing only two juniors and two seniors. Despite the perceived inexperience, the Owls are confident in their ability to repeat as WAC champions. "I think it will be TCU vs. Rice," head coach Jim Bevan said. "UTEP might be thrown in the mix as well. I think we stand a good chance to improve where we were last year. Our runners had a great summer and I believe another WAC title is an attainable goal." The men's cross country team is also looking to repeat as WAC champions and receive another bid to the NCAA Championships. Only two of last year's top seven runners are gone. Tyson Hendricksen transferred to Stanford University and Jeff Piper graduated in May. Everyone else is back, led by senior Lachlan McArthur, and the Owls also regain the services of senior Scott Palmer, who missed last season due to illness. "Having Scott back is already making a difference," Head Coach Jon Warren said. "In fact, all of our runners are in great shape and had great summers." Palmer should be consistently in the pack with experienced veterans such as McArthur, senior John Jura, junior Keith Pierce, junior Justin Burrow and sophomore Tom Ring. Four new faces may have an impact this season as well, as freshmen Sean O'Brian and Kevin Cassidy join sophomore transfers Jeremy LaBuff and Erik Mazza on the roster. Both teams begin their title defenses tonight, when they host the Rice Relay meet at Buffalo Bayou. The meet should be an excellent tune-up because its format is different from every other race the Owls will run. Teams consisting of two runners will run two separate legs of the race, with the men running two two-mile legs each and the women running two mile and a half legs each. "The relays give our runners a chance to run in a different position," Bevan said. "It breaks the monotony of a typical race. It will provide a nice beginning to our season."
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