The Seton Hill University (SHU) cross country teams have had the best seasons in years but had an unexpected and abrupt endings. With a season filled with new school records, top runners in the division, and a second place standing, the Griffins were unable to compete in the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships because of NCAA provisional rules.
By Katie Manni,
Senior Staff Writer
The Seton Hill University (SHU) cross country teams have had the best seasons in years but had an unexpected and abrupt endings. With a season filled with new school records, top runners in the division, and a second place standing, the Griffins were unable to compete in the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships because of NCAA provisional rules.
The Griffins, coached by Timothy Creamer posted impressive finishes throughout the season with runners such as Julian Florian, a senior, Josh Wilks, a freshman, Jess Bradley, a sophomore, Anna Cote, a freshman, Lara Heinz, a freshman, and Laura Lemoine, a senior. The success of underclassmen pushed the team to great success and hopefully will be reflected in future seasons.
The NCAA provisional status has been affecting SHU athletics from competing in regional and championship games and meets and the cross country teams are no exception. Creamer, explains that the provisional rules were misinterpreted and the team thought they were eligible to compete in the regional match but not nationals. By going against the NCAA rules and competing in the regional championships, which are sponsored by the NCAA, it would have jeopardized the university’s ability to gain full status within the NCAA.
Laura Lemoine, a senior, said, “I am terribly disappointed that we were not able to compete at the regional meet in Lockhave, Pa. The last race of my running career and I am told three days before that I can not compete because of a misinterpretation of NCAA rules.”
“I knew that the men would be a strong group this year and make things interesting at the WVIAC Championships. They have a great core group of upperclassmen returning next year. We will truly miss Julian (Fiorina) and what he has been able to do for the team. Hopefully we will be able to add a few strong freshmen in our next recruiting class and the experience of the our returnees will make us even better in 2008,” said Creamer.
Creamer reflects the same sentiments of the women’s team and looks forward to returning runners for next season.
Caroline Jones, a senior, said, “Knowing that four of the top seven are going to be here for another three years really ensures success for the future of the team.
The new talent also pushed our upperclassmen. It is not fun to lose your spot in the top seven, or to even be bumped down, so having new runners come in that are so good pushes you so hard to be faster to keep your spot. I saw a lot of the upperclassmen pushing it in practices which therefore resulted in great races.”
Creamer is looking to the future of the women’s team said, “We need the returning women to come back with the same dedication and determination to be the best they can be to achieve our goal of a conference championship once we become eligible after our provisional period is over.”
Creamer provided highlights of both the men and women’s season.
For the women, freshman Anna Cote set the school record in the 5000 meter race and 6000 meter race, was West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) runner of the week four times, won four individual championships in regular season races (seven top 10 finishes), won the WVIAC individual conference championship by placing first overall at the WVIAC meet, was named WVIAC freshman of the year, WVIAC MVP, and was named to the WVIAC All Conference Team. Lara Heinz, a freshman, had two top 10 finishes, four top 20 finishes including an 18th place finish at the WVIAC Championships. Laura Lemoine, a senior had two top 10 finishes, four top 20 finishes and placed 15 overall at the WVIAC conference championship meet.
In the men’s team, Fiorina lead the men’s team with two WVIAC runner of the week awards, broke the school record in the 8000 meter race twice and finished second overall at the WVIAC Cross Country Championships (the highest placement by a male cross country runner ever in a conference championship), as well as being named for the second time in his career to the all conference team. Josh Wilks, a freshman, had two top five finishes and five top 20 finishes including an 18 place finish at the WVIAC Championships (he was the highest placing freshman male runner on the team.) Jess Bradley, a sophomore, also had another strong season by placing in the top five twice and in the top 20 four times including a 20 place finish at the WVIAC Cross Country Championships.