Young Cross-Country Squad Faces First Challenge

Columbia cross-country is heading into its 2007 season with a fresh start. Equipped with 18 new freshmen and two new assistant coaches, the Lions are prepared to dominate in the Ivy League and NCAA.

Senior captains Liam Boylan-Pett and Zach Richard, along with juniors Jeff Randall and Paul Morris, will head the men’s roster, new assistant coach Jonathan Clemens said. The team will also feature what Clemens described as “one of the strongest freshman classes,” and aims to qualify for the NCAA Championships despite its youth.

The women’s team, led by senior captains Carmen Ballard, Stephanie Lenihan, and Shelby Leland, is looking to reestablish its Ivy League winning streak after losing to Princeton last fall. Returning junior Megan Lessard, sophomore Rebecca Davies, and freshman Jacqueline Drouin are expected to stand out in the Light Blue pack, according to new assistant coach Christine Engel. Ballard, first-team 2006 All-Ivy League, is also
anticipated to contribute significantly.

The men’s and women’s new talent, according to Clemens, may compensate for its overall youth.

“Certainly there’s an element of being young that can be a disadvantage,” he said. “The freshmen only ran a 5K in high school and now have to adjust to an 8K, but the level of expectations is high. Some of these kids are spectacular and are a lot better than some of the freshmen I’ve seen at other colleges. I think everyone realizes how good we can be.”

The Light Blue has been training its young blood with long runs, a staple of head coach Willy Wood’s training program, and intense hill work, Engel said. Late additions to the coaching staff, Engel and Clemens have coached at the University of San Francisco and the University of San Diego, respectively. Clemens is a two-time Ivy-League champion and All-American runner.

The team will debut its new roster at this Saturday’s Binghamton Invitational. The meet will serve as an early-season test for some of the runners, according to Engel, and will also give the new coaches an opportunity to see the athletes’ “natural racing instincts.”
Columbia men turned in a dominant performance last season at the Invitational, finishing first through eleventh. Morris had the fastest time, running 8000 meters in 26:21.0, just 0.2 seconds ahead of teammate Brian Horneck, who graduated last year. The women did not fare as well but posted respectable results. Ballard led the pack of Columbia runners, completing 5000 meters in 19:26.8. Finishing behind Ballard was Lenihan, who finished in 19:36.4. The Lions hope to repeat these solid results in this year’s event.