Aug. 28, 2002

The 2002 season for Florida Atlantic University cross-country is shaping up to be potentially one of the best cross-country seasons the school has ever had. The men's team struggled with injuries last year and only had six athletes on the roster; the NCAA minimum says that a roster must carry at least five players. The women's team labored last year as well, only having one runner run a time under 20 minutes. This year both teams are looking to be much improved.

Head Coach Alex Smolka has essentially brought in a brand new team from a year ago. The men's team boasts a 14-man roster, with ten new freshmen. The women's team roster also had a makeover, as it has been expanded to 12, with eight new freshmen entering into the mix. Quite a difference from last year.

The men's team is going to be much improved and expectations are reasonable because of such a high number of incoming freshmen. Yet at the same time the potential is very high because there are so many runners this year with four-years of running experience. There are three returning starters from last year who will be bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the young team. Junior Greg Burke will be leading that group as the second leading runner from last year. He has had a great off-season and is looking strong. New comers Mathew Mazzola, from Jupiter, FL, and Danny Goldsmith, of Ft. Myers, FL, have been showing great flashes in practice of how they are capable of running and should be able to help out the team right away.

"We are a very, very young team," said Smolka. "I think the best way to put it is that we have great potential and we'll see where we end up. Our expectations are certainly to finish right in the middle of the pack in the A-Sun."

For the women, team speed was a concern coming into the season. With only one player finishing under 20 minutes, the team needed an infusion of speed. Like the men's team, the potential is high because the new freshmen have had four solid years of running. Junior Claudia Beitel, the leading runner from last year returns, bringing leadership and stability to the top running spot.

"This year, if all goes well, we should have at least four, possibly five runners in the low 19's, which would move us right up the ladder in the conference," said Smolka.

Though this may be a young team, the potential is there to make them great. Leadership by the more seasoned and experienced runners will be key in the development of the freshmen to show them dedication that is needed to become great runners.

"This year everybody is really dedicated and they want the team to be very good," said Beitel. "They are all working hard and everybody's been pushing each other. [We] are young but I think we are going to be really good."

There may be some growing pains this year but the potential for the future of Florida Atlantic cross-country is here and will be here for years to come.